HISTORY 


RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE, 

VIRGINIA. 

THE  OLDEST  INCORPORATED  METHODIST  COLLEGE 
IN  AMERICA. 


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RICHARD  IRBY  (A.  B.    1844). 


Hicl^monb,  Pa.; 

WHITTET  &  SHEPPERSON,  GENERAL  PRINTERS. 


LIBRARY 

UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA 
SANTA  BARBARA 


PREFACE. 


The  following  resolution,  adopted  at  the  last  annual 
meeting  of  the  Board  of  Trustees,  will  answer  as  a 
preface  to  what  will  be  given  as  a  history  of  the  oldest 
incorporated  Methodist  college  in  America  now  in  exis- 
tence, and  can  be  pleaded  as  an  excuse,  if  any  be  needed, 
why  one  so  inexperienced  in  authorship  should  make 
this  effort  to  rescue  from  oblivion  what  is  left  of  the  re- 
cords and  information  now  obtainable  in  regard  to  this, 
comparatively  speaking,  venerable  college. 

"On  motion  of  J.  J.  Lafferty  and  W.  H.  Christian, 
" Resolved,  That  the  thanks  of  the  Board  be  tendered 
to  Richard  Irby,  Esq.,  for  his  labors  in  the  collection  of 
material  for  a  connected  and  authentic  historical  account 
of  this  college,  and  that  he  be  requested  to  continue  and 
perfect  this  work,  and  that  all  friends  of  the  college  be 
requested  to  give  him  their  cordial  aid  and  co-operation. ' ' 


HISTORY 

OF 

RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE 


EARLY  EFFORTS  OF  METHODISTS  TO  FOUND  SCHOOLS. 

I OHN  WESLEY,  the  founder  of  Methodism,  was  in 
every  sense  a  highly  educated  man.     His  education 
began  at  the  knee  of  one  of  the  wisest  and  most  ac- 
complished women  that  ever  lived  to  bless  the  world. 
It  was  continued  at  Oxford,  but  did  not  stop  there;  for 
he  believed,  and  acted  on  his  belief,  that  a  man's  educa- 
tion should  continue  as  long  as  his  intellectual  energy 
survives. 

The  great  business  of  Wesley  was  to  spread  scriptural 
holiness  over  the  world,  beginning  at  his  own  home. 
To  accomplish  this  great  end  he  sought  and  utilized 
every  practicable  agency.  Early  in  the  course  of  the 
great  movement  he  put  in  motion,  he  established  the 
Kings  wood  School,  which  he  aimed  to  make  as  thorough, 
practically,  as  Oxford  and  Cambridge,  and  free  from  the 
surroundings  which  hindered  evangelical  believers  in  at- 
tendance on  those  schools,  where  he  and  his  co-workers 
had  encountered  so  much  opposition  and  ridicule.  At 
this  school  were  to  be  allied  in  holy  matrimony  religion 
and  learning,  which  godless  hands  had  sought  to  put 
asunder;  for  he  valued  education  and  learning  severed 
from,  and  unhallowed  by,  religion  as  worse  than  worth- 
less. 


6       HISTOR  Y  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE. 

Following  the  example  of  this  great  leader,  Asbury, 
the  ' '  Pioneer  Bishop  of  America, ' '  sought  at  an  early 
day  to  carry  out  the  same  plans.  But  the  difficulties  he 
encountered  were  different  from  those  Mr.  Wesle}r  met 
in  many  respects.  At  the  close  of  the  Revolutionary 
War,  he  found  a  continent  over  the  broad  area  of  which 
was  spread  a  population  of  about  three  million  of  people. 
These  people  had  just  come  out  of  a  war  of  seven  years, 
impoverished  in  every  species  of  property  except  their 
broad  acres  of  forest  land,  worthless  until  subdued  by 
the  sturdy  husbandman.  The  currency  of  the  country 
was  well-nigh  worthless  and  irredeemable  in  gold  and 
silver.  The  great  and  controlling  idea  of  the  people  was 
the  restoration  of  wealth  and  material  resources.  This 
meant  and  required  hard  and  constant  work,  which 
pushed  aside  schools  and  all  other  enterprises  of  the  kind 
considered  as  of  secondary  importance.  At  that  time 
only  about  eight  colleges  were  found  in  the  States,  and 
these  were  slimly  endowed,  if  endowed  at  all,  and  but 
poorly  patronized. 

But  bold,  and  trusting  in  God,  Asbury  began  the  work 
of  establishing  schools,  hardly  waiting  for  the  clearing 
away  of  the  smoke  of  battle.  At  the  time  he  was  made 
General  Superintendent,  or  Bishop,  (1784),  there  were  in 
the  United  States  14,988  members  in  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal Church.  These  were  scattered  broadcast  over  the 
States  bordering  on  the  Atlantic  Ocean,  from  New  York 
to  Georgia.  The  bulk  of  the  membership  was  found  in 
the  Southern  States.  The  Minutes  for  that  year  give 
New  York  City  sixty  members  and  Brunswick  Circuit 
(Virginia)  four  hundred  and  eighty-four,  and  other  cir- 
cuits in  Virginia  more. 

In  the  year  1784  Dr.  Cummings  (in  Early  Schools  of 
Methodism,  New  York,  1886)  thinks  Bishop  Asbury 


HISTOR  Y  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE.        7 

founded  the  first  Methodist  academy  ever  established  in 
America.  It  is  reasonable,  however,  to  put  the  date  a 
little  later,  say  1785,  for  his  services  as  General  Superin- 
tendent did  not  begin  till  later,  inasmuch  as  Mr.  Wesley's 
letter  appointing  him  to  the  place  bears  date  September 
10,  1784.  This  school  or  academy  was  located  in  Bruns- 
wick county,  Virginia,  on  the  road  leading  from  Peters- 
burg to  Boydton,  at  a  point  about  midway  between  the 
two  places.  He  named  it 


EBENEZER    ACADEMY.* 

For  a  number  of  years  this  academy  was  controlled 
by  trustees  appointed  by  the  Bishop  or  by  the  Annual 
Confeience,  and  enjoyed  such  supervision  as  the  Bishop 
was  able  to  give,  which,  with  such  arduous  labors  as 
demanded  his  energies,  was  of  necessity  but  slight  and 
occasional.  On  this  account,  and  other  accounts  inci- 
dent to  the  times,  the  control  of  the  academy  was  lost 

"The  Ebenezer  Academy  building  is  still  standing,  but  it  has 
been  changed  somewhat  since  it  ceased  to  be  used  for  school 
purposes.  The  cut  used  here  was  made  from  a  pencil  sketch  of 
it  made  by  Mr.  Short,  who  lives  near,  and  sent  by  Rev.  J.  Carson 
Watson,  in  whose  circuit  it  is  located.  The  walls  are  of  stone, 
one  of  which  has  become  injured ;  otherwise,  the  old  house 
would  be  good  for  another  century. 


8       HISTOR  Y  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE. 

to  the  Methodists,  and  went  into  the  hands  of  the  county 
authorities,  which  control  never  was  regained  by  the 
Church.  But  it  was  kept  up  as  an  academy  for  many 
years,  and  at  it  many  of  the  most  prominent  men  of  the 
county  and  counties  adjacent  were  educated  wholly  or 
partly.  In  this  way  it  did  a  good  work  for  the  people  of 
its  day,  and  was  the  forerunner  and  prophecy  of  another 
school  not  far  away,  which,  under  better  auspices,  though 
not  without  difficulties,  has  lived  to  bless  the  Church  and 
the  world  in  this  nineteenth  century. 

The  first  regularly  incorporated  Methodist  college  in 
the  United  States  was  Asbury  College.  It  was  located 
near  Baltimore,  Md.  It  was  in  operation  only  a  few 
years.  Augusta  College,  Kentucky,  was  the  next.  That 
has  long  since  ceased  to  exist.  In  the  period  preceding 
the  division  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  there 
were  thirty-one  literary  institutions  controlled  by  this 
Church,  of  which  three  were  exclusively  for  females  and 
several,  co-educational.  Seventeen  of  these  were  located 
in  the  Southern  States.  Of  the  thirty-one,  only  six  col- 
leges have  survived,  viz.  :  Randolph- Macon  College, 
chartered  February  3,  1830;  Wesleyan  University  (Con- 
necticut), chartered  May,  1831 ;  Emory  and  Henry  (Vir- 
ginia), 1838;  Wesleyan  Female  College  (Georgia),  1839. 
Dickinson  College  (Pennsylvania)  chartered  in  1783, 
but  did  not  become  a  Methodist  college  till  1833,  and  was 
opened  as  a  Methodist  college  September,  1834.  Alle- 
ghany  College  (Pennsylvania)  was  chartered  in  1818,  and 
came  under  the  control  of  the  Methodist  Church  in  1833, 
and  was  opened  as  a  Methodist  college  the  same  year. 

It  will  thus  be  seen  that  all  these  male  colleges  which 
survived,  were  opened  under  Methodist  patronage,  nearly 
simultaneously, viz.:  Wesleyan  University,  October,  1831; 
Randolph- Macon,  January,  1832;  Alleghany  College, 


ERRATA. 

In  the  second  line  of  second  paragraph  of  this  page,  for  Asbury. 
read  Cokesbury. 

In  the  tenth  line,  for  Six  Colleges,  read  Seven  Colleges. 

In  the  third  line  below  that  line,  read    Emory  College.  Georgia, 
chartered  1837. 


HISTOR  Y  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE.       g 

November,  1833;  Dickinson  College,  September,  1834. 
This  point  of  time  thus  became  a  marked  starting-point 
in  the  history  of  Methodist  colleges.  Since  this  turning- 
point  was  passed,  the  number  of  them  has  increased  as 
rapidly  as  the  membership  of  the  church,  and  can  now  be 
counted  by  the  hundreds,  making  the  Methodist  Church 
foremost  in  the  great  work  of  Christian  education. 

It  may  be  noted  here  that  all  of  the  above-named  col- 
leges succeeded  to  buildings  which  had  been  used  for 
school  purposes,'  more  or  less  complete,  while  those 
of  Randolph- Macon  were  built  wholly  out  of  new  mate- 
rial. 

[t  ig  probable  that  the  idea  and  purpose  moving  Bishop 
ro  found  church  schools,  had  never  gone  entirely 
out  of  the  minds  of  the  "Methodists  of  Virginia,  notwith- 
standing all  the  failures  and  disasters  which  had  befallen 
the  early  enterprises.  They  found  no  school  in  the  Con- 
ference territory  of  high  grade  where  they  felt  safe  in 
sending  their  sons.  William  and  Mary  College  was 
under  the  control  of  the  Episcopalians,  and  its  location 
was  noted  for  excess  in  worldliness  and  free-living,  which 
did  not  invite  Methodists,  whose  rules  forbade  such  cus- 
toms. The  atmosphere  of  the  college  and  town  was  un- 
suited  to  Methodists,  and  they  were  looked  upon  as  unfit 
for  the  society  of  the  so-called  best  people.  Hampden- 
Sidney  College,  originally  non-sectarian,  had  come  under 
the  control  of  the  Presbyterians,  with  whom,  in  those 
days,  Arminiaii  Methodists  did  not  think  it  safe  to  let 
their  sons  remain  too  long,  lest  they  should  become  Cal- 
vinists.  Washington  College  was  then  a  feeble  school, 
and  remote  from  the  eastern  portion  of  the  State,  and  out- 
side the  Virginia  Conference.  Under  these  circum- 
stances, and  for  what  were  esteemed  good  reasons,  the 
Methodists  of  the  Virginia  Conference,  then  composed  of 


io     HISTOR  Y  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE. 

the  eastern  and  middle  portions  of  Virginia  and  North 
Carolina,  moved  in  the  matter  of  establishing  a  college 
of  high  grade. 

A  resolution,  adopted  by  the  General  Conference  of 
1824,  recommending  "that  each  Annual  Conference  es- 
tablish a  Seminary  of  learning  under  its  own  regulations 
and  patronage, ' '  had  the  effect  to  direct  the  attention  of 
the  church  throughout  the  connection  to  the  subject  of 
education.  So  almost  simultaneously  the  New  York 
Conference,  with  the  Virginia  Conference,  moved  towards 
the  establishment  of  a  college,  as  recommended  by  the 
General  Conference,  the  result  of  which  was  the  found- 
ing of  the  Wesleyan  University  at  Middletown,  Conn., 
and  of  Randolph- Macon  College  at  Boydton,  Va.,  the  two 
oldest  Methodist  colleges,  originally  incorporated  as  such, 
now  existing  in  America. 

The  credit  of  first  planning  or  founding  Randolph- 
Macon  College  has  been  awarded  to  Rev.  Hezekiah  G. 
Leigh  and  Gabriel  P.  Disosway.  The  former  was  a 
prominent  minister  in  the  Virginia  Conference,  and  was 
justly  esteemed  by  his  contemporaries  as  an  orator  second 
to  but  few,  if  any,  of  his  time.  Dr.  Bennett,  in  Memo- 
rials of  Methodism  in  Virginia,  says :  ' '  Perhaps  no 
man  ever  left  a  deeper  impression  on  the  hearts  of  the 
people  among  whom  he  labored.  In  every  city  where  he 
was  stationed,  in  every  district,  in  every  circuit,  there  are 
thrilling  recollections  of  his  preaching.  .  .  .  He  was  not 
simply  an  eloquent  preacher,  he  was  a  wise,  skillful, 
practical  workman  in  the  vineyard."  Dr.  W.  A.  Smith, 
third  President  of  Randolph- Macon  College,  said  of  him  : 
' '  Dr.  Leigh  had  few  equals  in  the  pulpit.  He  filled  a 
large  space  in  public  attention,  and  wielded  a  wide  and  un- 
disputed influence  among  his  brethren  in  the  ministry." 
He  was  a  native  of  Perquimans  county,  N.  C.,  born 


REV.   HEZEKIAH   G.    LEIGH,   D.    D. 


HISTOR  Y  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE.      1 1 

November  23,  1795,  but  for  many  years  prior  to  his  death 
resided  on  his  farm  near  Boydton,  Va. 

Gabriel  P.  Disosway  was  a  native  of  the  city  of  New 
York,  of  Huguenot  ancestry,  born  December  6,  1799. 
He  took  his  A.  B.  degree  at  Columbia  College,  New  York, 
in  1821.  In  early  life  he  became  a  citizen  of  Petersburg, 
Va.,  and  married  a  Virginia  lady.  He  was  a  pious  and 
devoted  Methodist,  and  by  his  superior  education  and 
literary  abilities  exerted  a  wide  and  salutary  influence  on 
the  church  circles  of  his  town  and  day.  Having  been  a 
college-bred  man,  he  may  have  suggested  to  Dr.  Leigh 
the  founding  of  a  college,  or  the  latter  may  have  sought 
the  advice  and  co-operation  of  Mr.  Disosway,  and  thence- 
forth the  two  worked  together  as  co-laborers  in  this  good 
cause.  Dr.  W.  A.  Smith  inclined  to  the  latter  view  of 
the  matter,  for  he  says  (Funeral  Discourse  on  Rev.  H. 
G.  Leigh),  "  Regarding  all  the  circumstances,  the  promi- 
nent position  held  by  Dr.  Leigh  in  originating  all  the 
preliminary  measures,  and  his  personal  activity  in  ad- 
vancing them,  we  have  always  considered  him  in  a  good 
sense  the  founder  of  Randolph -Macon  College."  Mr. 
Disosway  returned  to  New  York  in  1828,  and  thus  the 
college  ceased  to  have  his  active  co-operation  with  Dr. 
Leigh,  which  might,  and  doubtless  would,  have  been 
very  acceptable  and  beneficial.  He  lived  to  an  honorable 
old  age,  giving  much  of  his  valuable  time  to  the  great 
interests  of  the  Church  of  his  choice,  and  also  to  the  great 
religious  institutions  of  his  State  and  the  country,  with  a 
number  of  which  he  was  closely  identified  as  manager  or 
director.  He  also  wrote  frequently  for  the  press,  and 
was  the  author  of  several  books,  one  of  which  particu- 
larly was  highly  esteemed,  viz.  :  "  The  Old  Churches  of 
New  York. ' ' 

The  college,  many  years  ago,  recognized  the  claims  of 


12     HISTOR  Y  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE. 

these  co-founders  to  the  gratitude  and  remembrance  of 
succeeding  generations  by  placing  on  the  walls  of  the 
chapel  marble  tablets,  suitably  inscribed  and  dedicated  to 
their  memory. 

The  enterprise  of  establishing  a  college  in  the  Virginia 
Conference  took  definite  direction,  and  resulted  in  practi- 
cal action  at  the  session  of  the  Virginia  Conference  held 
at  Oxford,  N.  C.,  March  2,  1825.  In  the  minutes  is 
this  entry :  ' '  After  some  discussion  on  the  recommenda- 
tion of  the  General  Conference  (of  1824),  'That  each 
Annual  Conference  establish  a  Seminary  of  Learning, 
under  its  own  regulations  and  patronage,'  the  whole 
question  was  referred  to  a  committee  of  twelve — six 
ministers  and  six  laymen — to  consider  and  report  the 
best  method  of  establishing  such  a  Seminary  with  suit- 
able constitutional  principles."  The  following  consti- 
tuted the  committee  ordered:  John  Early,  Hezekiah  G. 
Leigh,  Caleb  Leach,  Charles  A.  Cooley,  William  Comp- 
ton  and  George  M.  Anderson,  of  the  Conference ;  and 
Gabriel  P.  Disosway,  Joseph  B.  Littlejohn,  John  Nutall, 
Lewis  Taylor,  Joseph  Taylor  and  Jesse  H.  Cobb,  of  the 

laity "The  College  bill,  which  was  laid  on  the 

table,  was  taken  up,  and,  after  some  amendment,  was 
adopted."  It  would  appear  from  the  constitution  of  the 
committee,  that  John  Early  made  the  motion  to  appoint 
the  committee,  and  this  was  probably  the  case,  because 
he  was  then,  and  for  many  years  afterwards,  a  leader  in 
the  business  of  the  Conference,  and,  therefore,  the  prime 
mover  in  the  enterprise,  had  enlisted  his  active  interest 
in  the  matter.  We  shall  see  that  this  prominent  position 
was  held  by  him  for  many  years  afterwards. 

This  was  all  that  was  done  at  this  Conference.  At  the 
next  Conference,  held  in  Portsmouth,  Va.,  February, 
1826,  the  committee  was  increased  by  adding  George 


HIST  OR  Y  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE.      13 

W.  Charlton  and  James  Smith,  ministers,  and  Robert 
A.  Armistead,  Arthur  Cooper,  Jesse  Nicholson,  local 
preachers,  and  J.  C.  Pegram,  Gary  Jennings,  laymen.  On 
the  2oth  the  committee  made  a  report,  and  the  report  was 
laid  on  the  table.  On  the  22nd  the  College  bill,  which 
was  laid  on  the  table,  was  taken  up,  and  after  some 
amendments  it  was  adopted.  On  the  23rd  the  "Select 
Committee,"  recommended  in  the  bill  adopted  on  the 
days  previous,  was  appointed,  viz.:  Hezekiah  G.  Leigh, 
George  W.  Charlton,  James  Smith,  John  Early,  Thomas 
Crpwder,  Ethelbert  Drake,  ministers,  and  Gabriel  P. 
Disosway,  Robert  A.  Armistead,  William  Clarke,  John 
C.  Pegram,  laymen.  This  committee  reported  at  the 
succeeding  Conference  (1827)  a  "Constitution"  for  the 
College,  which,  after  some  amendments,  was  adopted ; 
and  it  was  further  ' '  Resolved,  that  every  member  take  a 
subscription  paper  and  use  his  influence  and  best  exer- 
tions to  obtain  subscriptions  for  the  benefit  of  the  College 
contemplated  to  be  founded  within  the  bounds  of  this 
Conference. ' ' 

At  the  Conference  of  1828  a  new  committee  of  seven 
was  appointed  ' '  to  see  that  all  the  preachers  pay  a  due 
and  diligent  attention  to  every  regulation  and  matter 
appertaining  to  the  establishment  of  the  College  contem- 
plated, and  to  employ  an  efficient  agent  to  make  collec- 
tions and  obtain  subscriptions  for  the  same,  and  to  ma- 
turely consider  the  advantages  of  every  place  proposed 
for  its  site,  and  to  report  thereon  to  the  next  Conference 
upon  which  the  location  of  the  College  shall  be  fixed. ' ' 

LOCATION  AND  NAMING  OF  THE  COLLEGE. 

At  the  Conference  of  1829  the  committee  appointed  the 
year  previous  made  a  report.  The  Committee  had  met  at 
Zion  Church,  in  Mecklenburg  county.  The  citizens  of 


i4     HISTOR  Y  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE. 

Brunswick  offered  $20,000  in  subscriptions  on  condition 
that  the  College  be  located  at  Physic  Springs,  about  four 
miles  from  Lawrenceville,  the  county  seat,  and  not  very 
far  from  the  old  Ebenezer  Academy.  The  citizens  of 
Mecklenburg  offered  a  parcel  of  land  near  Boydton,  the 
county  seat,  at  a  very  low  price,  and  $10,000  in  sub- 
scriptions, with  some  possible  advantages  from  the 
Boydton  Academy.  The  location  was  fixed  at  or  near 
Boydton,  probably,  mainly  through  the  influence  of  Rev. 
Hezekiah  G.  Leigh,  the  prime  mover  in  the  College  en- 
terprise, and  Howell  Taylor,  a  very  influential  Methodist 
of  the  county,  together  with  Hon.  William  O.  Goode  and 
Col.  William  Townes,  men  of  great  popularity.  The  site 
selected  was  also  very  near  the  line  dividing  the  States 
of  Virginia  and  North  Carolina,  and  probably  more  acces- 
sible to  the  people  of  the  two  States  at  that  time  than  any 
other  eligible  location,  and  was  considered  healthful,  as 
well  as  the  centre  of  a  refined  community.  The  county 
of  Mecklenburg  was  one  of  the  largest  and  wealthiest  in 
the  State,  and  its  people  and  the  people  of  the  adjoining 
counties  of  North  Carolina  were  friendly  and  homogeneous . 
The  report  of  the  Committee  was  confirmed  by  the 
Conference,  and  the  Committee  was  authorized  to  apply 
to  the  General  Assembly  of  Virginia  for  a  charter.  This 
the  Committee  proceeded  to  do,  and  Mr.  Goode,  of  Meck- 
lenburg, presented  a  bill  to  incorporate  the  "Trustees  of 
Henry  and  Macon  College"  Friday,  January  15,  1830. 
After  going  through  the  several  readings  required,  and 
having  several  amendments  made,  on  motion  of  Mr. 
Alexander,  of  Mecklenburg,  the  title  was  changed,  mak- 
ing it  to  read,  ' '  An  act  to  incorporate  the  '  Trustees  of 
Randolph-Macon  College. ' ' '  The  bill  so  amended  was 
passed  by  both  houses,  and  became  a  law  February  3, 
1830.  The  Act  in  part  is  as  follows  : 


HISTOR  Y  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE.      15 

"i.  B  e  it  enacted  by  the  General  Assembly,  That  there  be, 
and  is  hereby  erected  and  established,  at  or  near  Boydton, 
in  the  county  of  Mecklenburg,  in  this  Commonwealth, 
a  seminary  of  learning  for  the  instruction  of  youth  in  the 
various  branches  of  science  and  literature,  the  useful  arts, 
agriculture,  and  the  learned  and  foreign  languages. 

"2.  And  be  it  further  enacted,  That  the  said  seminary 
shall  be  known  and  called  by  the  name  of  Randolph- 
Macon  College. 

"3.  And  be  it  further  enacted,  That  Hezekiah  Leigh, 
John  Early,  Edward  Cannon,  W.  A.  Smith,  William  I. 
Waller,  Thomas  Crowder,  Moses  Brock,  James  Boyd, 
William  Hammett,  Caleb  Leach,  Matthew  M.  Dance, 
Lewis  Skidmore,  Augustine  Claiborne,  Ethelbert  Drake, 
Henry  Fitts,  John  Nutall,  James  Wyche,  John  P.  Har- 
rison, Grenville  Penn,  Walker  Timberlake,  John  G. 
Claiborne,  Howell  Taylor,  James  Smith,  Joel  Blackwell, 
John  Y.  Mason,  James  Garland,  Richard  G.  Morris, 
John  W.  Lewis,  William  O.  Goode,  and  Nathaniel  Alex- 
ander be,  and  are  hereby,  constituted  and  appointed 
trustees  of  said  college,  who  and  their  successors  shall 
be  a  body  politic  and  corporate  by  the  name  of  the 
'  Trustees  of  Randolph- Macon  College,'  who  shall  have 
a  perpetual  succession  and  a  common  seal,  and  by  the 
name  aforesaid  they  and  their  successors  shall  be  capable 
in  law  to  possess,  purchase,  receive  and  retain  to  them 
and  their  successors  forever,  any  lands,  tenements,  rents, 
goods,  chattels  or  interests  of  any  kind  whatsoever,  which 
may  have  been  already  given,  or  by  them  purchased  for 
the  use  of  said  College ;  to  dispose  of  the  same  in  any  way 
whatsoever  they  shall  adjudge  most  useful  to  the  in- 
terests and  legal  purposes  of  the  institution ;  and  by  the 
same  name  to  sue  and  implead,  be  sued  and  impleaded, 
answer  and  be  answered,  in  all  courts  of  law  and  equity ; 


16     HISTOR  Y  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE. 

and  under  their  common  seal  to  make  and  establish,  from 
time  to  time,  such  by-laws,  rules  and  ordinances,  not 
contrary  to  the  laws  and  constitution  of  this  Common- 
wealth, as  shall  by  them  be  thought  essential  to  the  good 
order  and  government  of  the  professors,  masters  and 
students  of  said  College. ' ' 

It  will  appear  above  that  thirty  were  constituted  trus- 
tees. Of  the  thirty,  twelve  were  travelling  preachers  of 
the  Virginia  Annual  Conference,  and  eighteen  were  local 
preachers  and  laymen.  The  name  of  Rev.  Hezekiah  G. 
Leigh  heads  the  list,  as,  by  courtesy,  was  proper.  All 
were  members  of  the  Methodist  Church,  except  the  fol- 
lowing :  Judge  John  Y.  Mason,  John  W.  Lewis,  William 
O.  Goode,  and  Nathaniel  Alexander,  the  three  latter 
prominent  citizens  of  Mecklenburg  county.  Of  these  a 
number  lived  to  take  an  active  part  in  the  affairs  of  the 
college  for  many  years.  The  last  to  pass  away  was  Judge 
Garland,  of  Lynchburg,  who  died  a  few  years  since  at  a 
very  advanced  age. 

It  is  well  known  for  whom  Randolph- Macon  College 
was  named — John  Randolph,  of  Roanoke,  and  Nathaniel 
Macon,  of  North  Carolina.  How  it  came  about  that  a 
Christian  and  Methodist  college  should  bave  been  named 
for  men  who  were  not  professed  Christians,  and  who  had 
never,  so  far  as  is  known,  shown  any  preference  or  kindly 
interest  for  the  Methodist  Church,  has  been  a  question  of 
interest  and  speculation.  The  most  probable  solution  of 
the  question  is  that  the  name  was  determined  very  much 
by  precedent.  The  oldest  college  in  the  State,  William 
and  Mary,  founded  primarily  and  specially  for  educating 
"the  savages"  in  Christianity,  was  named  for  the  King 
and  Queen  then  on  the  throne.  Washington  College 
was  named  for  Washington,  the  hero  of  the  day  (1782); 
Hampden-Sidney  for  the  champions  of  liberty  and  human 


HISTOR  Y  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE.      17 

rights  (1783),  all  of  them  Christian  colleges,  but  named 
for  public  men,  representatives  of  the  sentiments  of  the 
periods  uppermost  when  they  were  founded.  Following 
the  precedents  set  by  these  colleges,  the  names  then 
most  prominent  in  Virginia  and  North  Carolina  were 
selected,  John  Randolph,  of  Roanoke,  and  Nathaniel 
Macon,  one  living  on  the  south  side  of  the  Roanoke 
River  and  the  other  on  the  north  side.  Neither  of  these 
men  was  in  any  way  connected  with  the  College,  nor  did 
either,  so  far  as  is  recorded,  ever  manifest  any  interest  in 
it  by  making  a  contribution  to  it  or  otherwise,  but  both 
were  very  popular  in  their  native  State,  in  whose  service 
they  literally  spent  their  lives.  John  Randolph  has  been 
called  an  infidel  by  some  Northern  writers,  but  those  who 
knew  him  best  represent  him  as  far  from  having  been 
such,  though  he  lived  at  a  time  when  infidelity  was  far 
from  being  uncommon  among  public  men.  At  one  time, 
at  least,  he  was  a  professed  believer  in  Christ,  and  never 
gave  up  his  belief,  however  inconsistent  in  his  life,  at 
times,  he  may  have  been. 

Hon.  J.  K.  Paulding,  a  distinguished  author  and  pub- 
lic man,  in  a  letter  accepting  membership  in  one  of  the 
literary  societies  of  the  College  soon  after  it  was  built, 
wrote  of  these  men  : 

"  Randolph- Macon  combines  the  names  of  two  very 
distinguished  men,  with  whom  I  was  acquainted;  with 
the  former,  long  and  intimately.  Mr.  Macon  was  one 
of  the  wisest,  most  virtuous  men  I  ever  knew.  His  in- 
tegrity as  a  private  man  was  only  equalled  by  his  devo- 
tion to  his  country  and  to  the  great  principles  of  liberty, 
of  which  he  was  a  most  faithful  and  devoted  advocate. 
Indeed,  I  may  say,  with  perfect  truth,  'that  in  the  sim- 
plicity of  his  habits  and  character,  as  well  as  in  the 
purity  of  his  principles,  he  realized  more  than  any  man 


i8      HISTOR  Y  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE. 

I  ever  knew  the  example  of  a  steadfast,  stern,  inflexible 
republican. 

"With  Mr.  John  Randolph  I  was  on  terms  of  inti- 
macy for  more  than  twenty  years.  He  was  a  very  extra- 
ordinary man,  whose  life  and  character  should  be  deli- 
neated by  one  who  could  analyze  them  thoroughly  and 
explain  their  strange  apparent  inconsistency.  To  me  it 
always  appeared  that  but  for  the  weakness  of  his  physi- 
cal constitution  and  the  almost  perpetual  sufferings  it 
entailed  upon  him,  he  would  have  been  one  of  the 
highest  models  of  a  high-minded  gentleman,  as  well  as 
one  of  the  wisest,  most  consistent  statesmen  of  the  age. 
But  his  physical  infirmities  and  sufferings  impaired  the 
vigor  and  consistency  of  his  mind,  while  they  often 
soured  his  temper,  and  caused  those  sudden  caprices, 
which  lost  him  many  friends,  and  made  his  greatest 
admirers  almost  afraid  to  indulge  in  the  society  of  one 
the  charm  of  whose  conversation  was  otherwise  irresisti- 
ble. This,  however,  I  will  say  of  him,  that  whatever 
may  have  been  the  infirmities  of  his  temper,  his  princi- 
ples were  of  the  most  high,  and,  indeed,  lofty  character. 
His  integrity  was  exemplary,  and  his  devotion  to  the 
great  principles  of  liberty  consistent  and  profound. 

"The  life  and  character  of  Mr.  Macon  young  men 
may  safely  make  the  objects  of  their  imitation  through- 
out, while  Mr.  Randolph  is  rather  a  subject  of  admira- 
tion and  wonder.  Virginia  should  be  proud  of  him  as  an 
orator  without  an  equal  among  his  contemporaries  and  as 
a  man  who,  with  all  his  faults,  was  possessed  of  many 
virtues  of  the  very  highest  order. ' ' 

Looking  at  the  matter  from  our  present  standpoint,  it 
seems  strange  that  a  more  suitable  name  was  not  selected 
more  in  accordance  with  the  special  character  of  the 
object  of  the  institution,  the  blending  of  the  highest  cul- 


REV.    JOHN    EARLY, 

First  President  (1832-1868)  of  the  Board  of  Trustees  of  Randolph-Macon  College, 
and  Bishop  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  South  . 


HISTOR  Y  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE.     ig 

ture  of  the  mind  with  the  elevation  of  Christian  char- 
acter. 

FIRST  MEETING  OF  THE  BOARD  OF  TRUSTEES. 

The  first  meeting  of  the  Board  of  Trustees  appointed 
under  the  act  of  incorporation,  was  held  at  Boydtown  (so 
it  reads),  Mecklenburg  county,  Va.,  April  9,  1830. 

The  following  members  were  duly  qualified  and  took 
their  seats,  viz.  :  Rev.  Hezekiah  G.  Leigh,  Rev.  John 
Early,  Rev.  William  A.  Smith,  Rev.  William  I.  Waller, 
Rev.  Moses  Brock,  Rev.  James  Boyd,  Rev.  Caleb  Leach, 
Rev.  Matthew  M.  Dance,  Rev.  Lewis  Skidmore  (mem- 
bers of  the  Virginia  Conference),  Rev.  John  G.  Clai- 
borne,  Rev.  James  Smith  (local  ministers),  Jas.  Wyche, 
Howell  Taylor,  J.  W.  Lewis,  William  O.  Goode,  and 
Nathaniel  Alexander,  Esqs.  Rev.  John  Early  was 
elected  chairman,  and  Rev.  William  A.  Smith  secretary. 

A  committee  was  appointed  to  draft  rules  for  the  gov- 
ernment of  the  Board,  and  one  to  obtain  drafts  of  build- 
ings for  the  College.  H.  G.  Leigh,  J.  W.  Lewis,  James 
Boyd,  and  L.  Skidmore  constituted  the  latter  committee. 

H.  G.  Leigh,  who  had  been  acting  as  Agent  for  the 
College  in  securing  subscriptions  and  funds  for  the  Col- 
lege enterprise,  under  the  appointment  of  the  Virginia 
Conference,  was  elected  Agent  to  continue  the  same 
work.  A  committee  was  also  appointed  to  secure  land 
for  the  location  of  the  College. 

This  was  the  work  of  the  first  day. 

At  the  second  session — the  next  day — Rev.  H.  G. 
Leigh,  from  the  Committee  to  Draft  Rules,  etc.,  reported 
the  rules  for  the  government  of  the  Board,  which  were 
adopted. 

Rev.  W.  I.  Waller  submitted  the  following  resolu- 
tions, which  were  adopted : 


20     HISTQR  Y  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE. 

1.  That  a  committee  be  appointed  to  prepare  an  ad- 
dress to  the  public  generally,  and  to  the  ministers  and 
members  of  the  Methodist    Episcopal  Church  particu- 
larly, requesting  their  aid  and  co-operation  in  procuring 
funds  for  the  establishment  of  Randolph- Macon  College. 

2.  That  a  copy  of  the  address  be  sent  to  each  presid- 
ing elder  and  preacher  in  charge  of  circuits  and  stations 
within  the  bounds  of  the  Virginia  Annual  Conference. 

William  A.  Smith, 'Moses  Brock,  H.  G.  Leigh,  and 
William  I.  Waller  were  appointed  on  this  committee. 

It  was  further  resolved  that  an  additional  Agent  be  ap- 
pointed. 

John  W.  Lewis  was  elected  Treasurer  of  the  Board. 

H.  G.  Leigh,  from  the  Committee  to  obtain  drafts 
for  the  College  Building,  reported  three — one  to  cost 
$30,182,  one  $20,569,  and  one  $19,238. 

The  first  resolutions  adopted  in  the  direction  of  build- 
ing was  to  appropriate  $14,000  towards  the  purchase  of 
land  and  the  erection  of  a  College  building. 

It  was  also  resolved  ' '  that  it  is  expedient  to  establish 
a  Preparatory  School  to  Randolph -Macon  College  as  soon 
as  the  building  can  be  prepared  for  that  purpose,"  and 
$1,500  was  appropriated  to  its  erection. 

A  "  Committee  on  Building  "  was  appointed  to  obtain 
the  best  model  for  the  College  building,  and  contract  for, 
and  superintend  the  construction  of,  the  same,  and  also 
the  building  for  the  Preparatory  School. 

Rev.  H.  G.  Leigh's  salary  as  agent  was  fixed  at  "the 
usual  salary  of  a  Methodist  itinerant  preacher. ' ' 

The  first  financial  report  by  the  agent  was  made  as 
follows  : 

Monies  subscribed, $9, 135  90 

Monies  collected  of  this, 399  79 

Of  this  doubtful,  $380.  $8,736  n 


HISTOR  Y  OF  RANDOLPH- MACON  COLLEGE.      21 

The  offer  of  the  trustees  of  Boydton  Academy  to  sell 
the  same  was  not  accepted. 

The  committee  authorized  to  purchase  land  for  the 
College  made  report,  and  the  committee  was  empowered 
to  purchase  land  from  several  parties  at  an  average  of 
about  $5.50  per  acre. 

The  agent  reported  that  the  subscription  of  Mecklen- 
burg county  was  $10,000.  It  was  ordered  that  the  sub- 
scription paper  be  deposited  with  the  Treasurer. 

The  first  Building  Committee  appointed  was  as  fol- 
lows :  Hezekiah  G.  Leigh,  John  W.  Lewis,  James 
Smith,  Matthew  M.  Dance,  Moses  Brock,  and  John 
Early ;  and  here  the  deliberations  of  the  first  meeting  of 
the  Board  ended. 

With  a  subscription  list  of  less  than  $20,000,  including 
the  county  subscription,  a  large  portion  of  which,  in 
those  days,  as  in  the  present,  was  uncollectable  and 
worthless,  this  band  of  workers  went  forward,  "not 
knowing  whither  they  were  going,"  but,  like  Abraham, 
trusting  in  the  Lord,  whose  spirit  had  prompted  the  en- 
terprise, that  he  would  bring  about  a  successful  issue. 
Could  they  have  foreseen  the  difficulties  ahead,  the  work 
probably  would  never  have  been  undertaken,  nor  would 
Columbus  ever  have  discovered  a  new  world  if  he  had 
foreseen  the  difficulties  which  were  before  him. 

It  is  not  untimely  to  pause  and  dwell  on  some  of  the 
actors  in  this  work. 

The  chairman,  Rev.  John  Early,  who  was  afterwards 
Bishop  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  South,  was 
at  this  time  in  the  prime  of  life.  He  was  not  a  college- 
bred  man.  He  probably  valued  college  education  as 
highly  as  he  did  because  he  felt  so  keenly  the  need  of  it. 
He  was,  however,  in  the  best  sense,  an  educated  man, 
and  a  man  among  men.  From  his  early  manhood  his 


22     HISTORY  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE. 

brethren  and  fellow-citizens  manifested  their  apprecia- 
tion of  him  by  calling  him  to  the  highest  positions  in  the 
church  and  in  the  state.  The  latter,  however,  were  not 
accepted  by  him.  It  may  be  safely  said  that  no  man 
ever  lived  in  Virginia  who  was  more  intimately  or  more 
widely  known  than  John  Early.  No  man  ever  knew 
more  men.  Few  ever  had  more  seals  to  their  ministry. 
Not  neglecting  his  own  peculiar  work  in  the  church,  he 
was  always  foremost  in  everything  that  he  esteemed 
promotive  of  the  good  of  the  church  and  the  state. 
From  the  outset  he  threw  into  the  college  enterprise  all 
his  great  energy,  and  gave  it  the  benefit  of  his  large 
practical  sense,  because  he  felt  that  the  church,  as  well 
as  the  state,  was  in  need  of  such  an  agency.  Under  the 
charter,  as  subsequently  amended,  he  was  elected  Presi- 
dent of  the  Board  of  Trustees,  and  retained  that  position 
for  about  forty  years,  rarely  ever  failing  to  attend  the 
annual  meetings,  when  attendance  involved  days  of 
tedious  and  difficult  travel  over  rough  roads.  When  over 
eighty  years  of  age  he  was  found  at  his  place  in  the 
Board.  Doubtless  his  latest  prayers  were  for  the  suc- 
cess of  the  cause  to  which  he  gave  many  of  the  years  of 
his  manhood's  prime.  Randolph- Macon  College  will 
never  let  the  name  of  John  Early  be  forgotten.  His 
portrait  adorns  the  Trustees'  room,  and  his  eyes  look 
down  every  June  on  his  successors  in  the  Board  of 
Trustees,  who  are  laboring  to  carry  forward  the  work 
which  he  and  his  co-laborers  commenced  in  1825. 

The  first  secretary,  Rev.  William  Andrew  Smith,  was 
another  man  of  power,  a  self-made  man,  as  such  men 
are  commonly  called.  He  accepted  the  ' '  call  from  on 
high"  to  do  great  things.  He  was  endowed  with  a 
wonderfully  fertile  and  active  mind.  When  fully  aroused 
in  any  cause  his  heart  espoused,  he  was  a  power  with 


REV.  LEWIS  SKIDMORE, 

Original  Member  of  Board  of  Trustees. 


HISTOR  Y  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE.      23 

the  people  and  with  deliberative  bodies.  Commencing 
active  service  for  the  College  as  Secretary  of  the  Board, 
he  lived  to  become  the  President  of  the  College  from 
1847  to  1865.  When  he  took  charge  of  it,  the  College 
was  at  the  lowest  condition  financially  as  well  as  in 
patronage,  that  it  ever  reached.  Full  of  faith  and  zeal 
himself,  he  infused  new  life  into  it  and  animated  its 
friends  with  fresh  courage  and  zeal.  Realizing  that  an 
endowment  was  absolutely  essential,  in  1855  he  under- 
took to  raise  $100,000  for  it,  and  succeeded.  Of  this 
endowment  more  will  be  said  further  on. 

Another  self-made  man  among  the  corporators  present 
was  Lewis  Skidmore.  In  native  talent  of  a  peculiar 
order,  he  was  second  to  none  of  his  associates.  He  had, 
however,  none  of  the  ambition  of  some  of  the  others. 
For  power  of  argumentation  on  any  subject  he  took  in 
hand,  he  was  equal  to  the  foremost.  He  said  once, 
when  asked  at  what  college  he  had  graduated,  ' '  I  grad- 
uated at  the  anvil."  When  the  hammer  of  his  logic 
struck  it  shaped  or  shivered  the  object  it  struck.  As 
punctual  as  a  clock,  the  day  before  the  Trustees  were  to 
meet,  his  rotund  form  would  be  seen  about  the  same 
hour  rising  over  the  western  hill  as  the  sun  was  going 
down. 

Space  will  not  allow  particular  reference  to  the  other 
members  of  the  Board.  All  of  them  were  men  of  mark 
in  their  callings.  Three  of  them — laymen,  citizens  of 
Mecklenburg  county — were  not  members  of  the  Method- 
ist church. 

William  O.  Goode  was  a  representative  man.  He  was 
a  member  of  the  Legislature,  and  brought  forward  the 
College  bill.  He  was  a  member  of  the  State  Convention 
of  1829  and  of  the  Congress  of  the  United  States  for 
several  sessions. 


24     HISTOR  Y  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE. 

Nathaniel  Alexander  was  a  wealthy  planter  and  a  man 
of  fine  education,  and  represented  his  county  in  the 
Legislature  more  than  once. 

John  W.  Lewis  was  a  lawyer  of  prominence,  and 
served  as  Treasurer  of  the  College  as  long  as  he  lived. 

The  fact  that  these  men  were  on  the  Board  will  show 
that  sectarian  bigotry  was  not  so  strong  in  olden  times 
as  some  have  been  inclined  to  believe. 

Rev.  John  G.  Claiborne  served  on  the  Board  for  many 
years  faithfully  and  efficiently,  and  outlived  all  of  the 
original  members. 

At  the  second  meeting  of  the  Board  of  Trustees,  held 
October  30,  1830  (Rev.  John  Early,  chairman,  presid- 
ing), the  Building  Committee  reported  the  plan  for  the 
main  College  building,  with  cost  of  erection.  William 
A.  Howard  and  Dabney  Cosby  were  the  contractors. 
The  plan  embraced  a  centre  brick  building  fifty-two  feet 
front  by  fifty-four  deep,  with  wings  east  and  west  sixty- 
seven  and  a  half  feet  each,  making  a  total  front  of  one 
hundred  and  eighty-seven  feet,  all  four  stories  high. 
The  contract  price  for  the  same,  except  painting,  tin 
roof,  casement  of  the  library,  and  seats  in  the  chapel,  to 
be  finished  in  "  a  plain,  workman-like  manner,  of  the 
best  materials,"  to  be  $14,137,  and  it  was  to  be  ready 
for  occupancy  by  the  spring  of  1832.  The  committee 
also  reported  the  purchase  of  two  hundred  and  fifty  - 
seven  acres  of  land  from  several  parties,  including  pre- 
vious purchase,  the  several  tracts  forming  a  solid  body. 

Rev.  H.  G.  Leigh,  Agent,  made  report  as  to  the 
finances,  as  follows  : 

Monies  collected  to  date, $      941  59 

Subscriptions  deemed  good, 27,762  70 

Total, $28,703  29 


HIS  TORY  OF  RA  NDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE.     2  5 

Rev.  William  Hammett,  an  eloquent  Irish  minister, 
was  appointed  agent  for  soliciting  additional  funds. 

Of  the  subscriptions  made  by  citizens  of  Mecklenburg 
county,  the  name  of  William  Townes  heads  the  list  with 
$  1,000,  the  largest  subscription  to  the  College  funds  in 
early  times.  He  was  not  a  Methodist,  nor  a  member  of 
any  church,  but  he  was  one  of  the  earliest  and  best 
friends  of  the  College. 

On  the  early  subscription  lists  there  were  about  five 
hundred  names.  Next  to  the  subscription  of  Col. 
Townes,  there  were  none  above  $300. 

The  third  meeting  of  the  Board  of  Trustees  was  held 
April  15,  1831,  Rev.  John  Early,  chairman,  presiding. 
The  following  items  of  business  transacted  are  noted  : 

Rev.  Thomas  Adams,  a  local  minister,  of  Lunenburg 
county,  was  elected  in  place  of  Rev.  James  Smith,  who 
resigned  his  membership. 

A  "Stewards'  Hall"  was  authorized,  the  cost  of  the 
building  of  which  was  not  to  exceed  $4,000. 

The  chairman  of  the  Board  was  authorized  to  adver- 
tise that  the  Board  would  proceed  to  elect  at  the  next 
meeting  (in  October,  1831)  a  President,  Professors,  and 
Masters. 

The  salary  of  the  President  to  be  elected  was  fixed  at 
$1,000  for  the  first  year;  salaries  of  the  Professors  for 
the  first  year,  $800. 

The  fourth  meeting  of  the  Board  was  held  October  13, 
1831,  Rev.  John  Early  in  the  chair. 

At  this  meeting  Rev.  H.  G.  Leigh,  Agent,  reported 
subscriptions  amounting  to  $9,873,  and  Rev.  William 
Hammett,  $13,047,  in  all  $22,^20. 

The  South  Carolina  Conference  was  formally  invited 


26     HISTOR  Y  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE. 

to  unite  and  co-operate  with  the  Board  in  the  support  of 
Randolph- Macon  College,  with  the  proviso  that  should 
the  Conference  agree  so  to  do,  the  Board  would  elect  six 
members  Trustees  from  the  bounds  of  that  Conference. 

Rev.  Martin  P.  Parks  was  appointed  the  Agent  to 
communicate  with  said  Conference  and  to  solicit  sub- 
scriptions. 

The  Building  Committee  reported  the  centre  building 
walls  up  and  covered  in  and  the  wings  well  under  way  ; 
also,  the  purchase  of  additional  land. 

The  committee  to  whom  was  referred  the  matter  of 
nominating  a  President  and  Professors  reported,  and  the 
following  elections  were  made  :  Rev.  John  Emory,  D.  D. , 
of  New  York,  President  and  Professor  of  Moral  Science  ; 
Rev.  Martin  P.  Parks,  of  North  Carolina,  Professor  of 
Mathematics  ;  Landon  C.  Garland,  of  Virginia,  Profes- 
sor of  Natural  Science  ;  Rev.  Robert  Emory,  of  New 
York,  Professor  of  Languages. 

Mr.  William  O.  Goode,  member  of  the  Legislature,  of 
Mecklenburg  county,  was  appointed  to  ask  of  the  Gen- 
eral Assembly  of  Virginia  aid  for  the  College. 

FIFTH  MEETING  OF  THE  BOARD. 
A  called  meeting  of  the  Board  was  held -April  4,  1832. 
At  this  meeting  letters  were  presented  and  read  announc- 
ing the  declination  of  Dr.  John  Emory  to  accept  the 
presidency  of  the  College,  and  of  Rev.  Robert  Emory  to 
accept  the  chair  to  which  he  was  elected.  The  letters 
were  as  follows  : 

NEW  YORK,  February  17,  1832. 

"REV.  AND  DEAR  SIR:  My  conviction  of  the  import- 
ance of  time  to  enable  you  to  make  suitable  arrangements 
for  the  opening  of  Randolph- Macon  College  at  the  ap- 
pointed period,  induces  me  to  avail  myself  of  the  occasion 


HISTOR  Y  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE.     27 

of  your  assembling  in  Conference  to  communicate  to 
you  the  conclusion  to  which  I  have  come,  on  mature  reflec- 
tion, in  regard  to  the  high  and  honorable  post  to  which 
you  have  kindly  invited  me  in  that  institution. 

' '  I  trust  I  need  not  repeat  here  how  sincerely  my  best 
wishes  attend  your  exertions  in  the  cause  of  education, 
nor  the  pleasure  I  should  take  in  contributing  any  small 
service  in  my  power  towards  your  success. 

' '  Considering,  however,  the  confinement  which  such  a 
situation  would  require  of  me,  the  studies  to  which  it 
would  oblige  me  to  devote  myself  in  order  to  discharge 
its  duties  as  I  would  wish,  and  the  effect  which  such  a 
course  would  be  likely  to  have  upon  my  health,  already 
needing  rather  relief  from  the  arduous  duties  of  my 
present  post,  I  am  under  the  necessity  of  declining  the 
acceptance  of  your  kind  invitation,  and  beg  you  for  me 
to  make  this  communication  to  the  Board  over  which  you 
preside. 

4 '  Be  pleased,  at  the  same  time,  to  accept  for  yourself 
personally,  and  to  convey  to  the  members  of  the  Board, 
the  assurance  of  the  deep  sense  I  entertain  of  the  obliga- 
tions you  have  laid  me  under,  as  well  as  in  behalf  of  my 
son  as  in  my  own ;  and  that  you  may  at  all  times  com- 
mand any  service  which  it  may  be  in  my  power  to  render 
as  friends  of  the  important  institution  under  your  care. 
"Very  respectfully,  Rev.  and  dear  sir,  yours, 

"J.  EMORY." 
' '  To  the  Rev.  John  Early, 

Chairman,  etc.,  of  the  Board  of  Trustees  of  Randolph  - 
Macon  College,  Va." 

"NEW  YORK,  November  j,  1831. 

"REV.  AND  DEAR  SIR:  Yours  of  the  i5th  ultimo  was 
duly  received,  and  would  have  elicited  an  earlier  reply 
but  for  the  absence  of  my  father,  whom  I  wished  to  con- 


28      HISTOR  Y  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE. 

suit  previously  to  communicating  my  own  views  of  the 
subject. 

' '  I  take,  however,  the  earliest  opportunity  after  his 
return  to  express  through  you,  to  the  Board  of  Trustees, 
the  high  sense  which  I  entertain  of  the  flattering  honor 
which  they  have  been  pleased  to  confer  upon  me,  and  at 
the  same  time  my  regret  for  the  necessity  which  I  am 
under  of  declining  its  acceptance. 

' '  My  anxiety  to  prosecute  thoroughly  and  with  an 
undivided  attention  the  study  of  a  profession  is  such 
that  neither  my  desire  to  promote  the  interests  of  educa- 
tion, nor  even  the  temptation  of  the  honorable  post  which 
you  have  offered  me,  and  the  agreeable  society  which  I 
should  enjoy  in  Virginia,  are  sufficient  to  withdraw  me 
from  a  course  in  which  my  father  has  had  the  kindness 
to  yield  me  his  acquiescence.  With  the  best  wishes  for 
the  prosperity  of  your  institution,  and  a  hope  that  you 
may  secure  for  it  the  services  of  one  whose  ability 
(though  certainly  not  his  desire)  to  serve  you  will  be  far 
greater  than  mine,  I  remain  with  great  respect, 

"Yours,  &c. ,  R.  EMORY. 

"  To  the  Rev.  John  Early." 

Prof.  Landon  C.  Garland  and  Rev.  Martin  P.  Parks 
accepted  the  chairs  to  which  they  had  been  elected  at  the 
previous  meeting.  Their  letters  of  acceptance  were  as 
follows  : 

FROM  LANDON  C.  GARLAND. 

"WASHINGTON  COLLEGE,  December  /j,  1831. 
' '  DEAR  SIR  :  Circumstances  not  altogether  under  my 
control  have  prevented  me  from  replying  to  your  com- 
munication of  October  i5th  as  early  as  I  wished.     Hav- 
ing given  to  its  contents  that  mature  deliberation  which 


HISTOR  Y  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE.      29 

their  importance  surely  demanded,  I  feel  myself  prepared 
to  give  a  final  decision. 

' '  The  only  ambition  of  my  life  has  been  to  devote  all 
my  time  and  talents  to  the  promotion  and  welfare  and 
happiness  of  our  common  country ;  and  that  situation 
which  would  enable  me  to  do  this  most  efficiently  I  have 
ever  esteemed  most  eligible.  Contemplating  in  this 
spirit  the  important  and  extensive  field  of  useful  labor 
which  Randolph -Macon  College  presents,  I  have  felt  it  a 
duty  incumbent  upon  me  to  obey  the  call  which  you  so 
politely  communicated  in  behalf  of  its  Trustees.  And 
through  you  I  beg  leave  to  assure  them  that  this  dis- 
charge of  duty  accords  with  every  impulse  of  the  heart ; 
and  I  do  trust  that  by  a  vigorous  and  united  exertion  with 
those  associated  with  me,  we  shall  in  some  humble  mea- 
sure redeem  the  pledge,  which  by  our  acceptance  we 
make  both  to  that  body  and  to  the  world. 
' '  Yours  very  sincerely, 

"LANDON  C.  GARLAND. 

"  To  the  Rev.  John  Early." 

FROM  M.  P.  PARKS. 

PETERSBURG,  VA.,  April 3,  1832. 

"REV.  AND  DEAR  SIR:  I  hereby  acknowledge  the 
receipt  of  your  official  letter  informing  me  of  my  election 
to  the  professorship  of  mathematics  in  Randolph- Macon 
College.  My  answer  has  been  delayed  until  the  present 
that  I  might  have  an  opportunity  of  consulting  the  Vir- 
ginia Conference,  of  which  I  am  a  member,  before  reply- 
ing definitely  to  your  communication.  The  Conference 
at  its  last  session  having  advised  me  to  the  acceptance  of 
the  professorship  tendered,  it  is  hereby  accepted.  And 
in  accepting  it,  which  I  cannot  do  but  with  diffidence,  in 
view  of  the  important  duties  and  high  responsibilities 


3o      HISTOR  Y  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE. 

therewith  connected,  I  beg  that  you  will  present  to  the 
Board  of  Trustees  my  acknowledgements  for  the  favor- 
able light  in  which  they  have  been  pleased  to  view  my 
qualifications  for  the  department  to  which  I  am  called. 

' '  For  the  institution,  now  growing  under  their  auspices 
I  cherish  the  warmest  regard,  and  so  far  as  devotion  to 
its  interests  can  ensure  success,  I  hope  not  altogether  to 
disappoint  the  expectations  of  the  Board.  More,  it  is 
presumed,  need  not  be  promised ;  less  could  not  be  re- 
quired. Offering  through  you  to  the  Board  my  most 
Christian  regards,  I  have  the  pleasure  to  subscribe  my- 
self, dear  sir,  "  Very  respectfully  yours, 

"M.  P.  PARKS." 

Dr.  John  Emory  was  subsequently  elected  Bishop  of 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  and  was  one  of  the  most 
honored  and  beloved  Bishops  that  church  ever  had.  It 
was  soon  called  to  mourn  his  sudden  and  untimely  death, 
which  occurred  while  he  was  in  the  prime  of  life  and  in 
the  height  of  a  most  useful  career.  His  name  is  made 
honorable  by  its  association  with  two  colleges  of  the 
church — Emory  College,  Oxford,  Georgia,  founded  in 
1837,  and  Emory  and  Henry  College,  Virginia,  founded 
1838. 

His  son,  Rev.  Robert  Emory,  was  subsequently  presi- 
ident  of  Dickinson  College,  Pennsylvania,  and  was  most 
highly  esteemed  by  the  church.  His  name  is  known  and 
repeated  to  this  day  as  the  Christian  name  of  children 
whose  fathers  were  under  his  care  and  tutelage  at  Dickin- 
son College. 

At  this  meeting  the  Board  found  the  Preparatory 
School  in  operation.  It  had  been  opened  in  January, 
1832.  The  first  principal,  Rev.  Lorenzo  Lea,  A.  M., 
was  not  able  to  take  charge  of  it  promptly  because  of  a 


HISTOR  Y  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE.      31 

previous  engagement  at  Chapel  Hill  University,  North 
Carolina.  He  did  commence  his  work,  however,  early 
in  the  year.  His  place  was  temporarily  supplied  by  Mr. 
Hugh  A.  Garland,  brother  of  Prof.  Landon  C.  Garland, 
a  graduate  of  Hampden- Sidney  College,  who  afterwards 
was  clerk  of  the  House  of  Representatives  of  the  United 
States,  and  the  author  of  "The  Life  of  John  Randolph, 
of  Roanoke." 

The  Preparatory  School  had  during  the  first  term  a 
patronage  of  thirty-eight.  The  Board  ordered  for  this 
School  an  assistant  teacher. 

In  order  to  extend  the  influence  and  patronage  of  the 
College,  the  Board  took  steps  to  secure  the  cooperation 
of  the  Georgia  Conference  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church,  offering  a  representation  on  the  Board  of  such 
as  should  be  nominated  to  it  by  the  Conference. 

SIXTH  MEETING  OF  THE  BOARD,  JULY  4,  1832. 

Rev.  Martin  P.  Parks,  professor-elect,  as  requested  by 
the  Board  at  its  last  meeting,  appeared  and  delivered  "a 
learned,  eloquent,  and  patriotic  address ' '  before  the 
Board  and  the  public. 

The  same  gentleman,  who  had  been  appointed  by  the 
Board  to  visit  the  South  Carolina  Conference  to  invite 
their  cooperation  in  the  College  enterprise,  made  a  report 
of  his  mission,  and  laid  before  the  Board  the  response  of 
the  Conference,  which  was  as  follows:  "The  commit- 
tee to  whom  was  referred  the  address  and  resolutions  of 
the  Board  of  Trustees  of  Randolph-Macon  College,  re- 
port: 

"That  they  have  had  the  same  under  consideration, 
and  been  favored  with  an  interview  with  the  esteemed 
agent  of  the  Board,  Brother  Parks,  and  from  all  that  has 
been  presented  to  them,  and  which  they  have  duly 


32      HISTOR  Y  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE. 

weighed  and  examined  respecting  the  College,  have  come 
unanimously  to  the  conclusion  that  the  Conference  ought 
to  regard  it  with  favor,  and  accordingly  do  recommend 
the  following  resolutions : 

' '  Resolved,  That  the  establishment  of  a  well-endowed 
college,  purely  literary  and  scientific,  in  a  desirable  place 
in  the  Southern  Atlantic  States,  and  under  the  direction 
and  control  of  a  Faculty  and  Board  of  Trustees,  consist- 
ing, and  perpetually  to  consist,  of  members  and  friends 
of  our  church,  is  an  object  of  first  importance,  vitally  in- 
teresting to  our  Zion,  and  deserving  of  the  best  wishes 
and  assistance  of  all  our  friends. 

"  Resolved,  That  Randolph- Macon  College,  of  Virginia, 
instituted  under  an  ample  charter,  of  the  State  of  Vir- 
ginia, and  now  shortly  to  be  opened  under  the  auspices 
of  the  Virginia  Conference,  possesses  every  reasonable 
prospect  of  soon  becoming  in  all  respects  all  that  the 
friends  of  literature  and  religion,  and  those  of  our  own 
church,  especially,  could  desire,  and  is  entitled  to,  and 
ought  to  receive,  the  preference  and  patronage  of  this 
Conference. 

"Resolved,  That  we  earnestly  recommend  the  Ran- 
dolph-Macon  College  aforesaid  to  all  our  brethren  and 
friends  of  the  South  Carolina  Conference,  and  will  cor- 
dially receive  an  agent  and  second  his  efforts  when  such 
an  one  shall  be  sent  to  solicit  aid  for  the  College. 

' '  Resolved,  That  we  accept  a  share  in  the  supervision 
of  the  College  approved  by  the  Board  of  Trustees,  and 
nominate  six  suitable  persons  of  the  ministry  and  mem- 
bership of  the  church  indifferently  within  our  Conference 
limits  to  be  elected  into  the  Board  of  Trustees  on  our 
behalf. 

' '  All  of  which  is  respectfully  submitted. 

"(Signed)  W.  CAPERS,  Chairman. 


HISTORY  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE.      33 

"On  motion,  it  was  resolved  unanimously  that  the 
above  report  be  adopted. 

"The  Conference  then  proceeded  to  nominate  the  fol- 
lowing Trustees,  viz.  :  Col.  Thomas  Williams,  Major 
Alexander  Speed,  Rev.  Dr.  William  Capers,  Rev.  Wm. 
M.  Kenned}*,  Rev.  William  M.  Wightman,  and  Rev. 
William  Holmes  Ellison. 

"Teste:  WILLIAM  M.  WIGHTMAN, 

' '  Secretary. 
"DARLINGTON,  S.  C.,  January  jo,  1832." 

The  above  nominees  of  the  South  Carolina  Conference 
were  elected  members  of  the  Board. 

George  W.  Jeffries,  of  North  Carolina,  was  elected  a 
trustee  in  place  of  John  Nuttall,  deceased. 

The  Baltimore  Conference  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church  was  invited  to  unite  and  co-operate  with  the 
Board  on  the  same  terms  and  conditions  offered  the 
Georgia  Conference.  An  agent  was  appointed  to  visit 
these  Conferences  in  order  to  secure  their  co-operation. 
John  Early  was  appointed  to  visit  them. 

The  Holston  Conference  was  likewise  invited  to  co- 
operate with  the  Board,  and  Rev.  William  Hammett 
was  appointed  to  visit  that  Conference. 

The  Finance  Committee  reported  the  receipts  and  ex- 
penditures to  date,  as  follows  : 

Receipts, $11,350  02 

Expenditures, 10,516  26 

Balance  on  hand $833  76 

Appropriations  for  the  first  year  (including  salaries  of 
agents  of  the  College,  $300),  $4,500. 

A  steward  for  the  Boarding  Hall  was  elected.  The 
price  of  board  of  students  was  fixed  at  six  dollars  per 
month  at  the  Steward's  Hall. 


34      HISTORY  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE. 

On  motion  of  Rev.  William  Hammett,  Rev.  Stephen 
Olin,  of  Franklin  College,  Georgia,  was  unanimously 
elected  President  of  the  College. 

It  was  ordered  that  the  College  be  opened  for  students 
on  October  9,  1832. 

Prof.  Edward  Dromgoole  Sims,  A.  M.,  of  LaGrange 
College,  Alabama,  was  elected  Professor  of  Languages. 

Dr.  Olin  and  Prof.  Sims  subsequently  accepted  the 
positions  to  which  they  were  elected.  Their  letters  of 
acceptance  were  as  follows  : 

'  ''Rev.  John  Early, 

"DEAR  SIR:  I  hereby  announce  to  you,  and  through 
you  to  the  Trustees  of  Randolph- Macon  College,  that  I 
accept  the  presidency  of  that  institution,  as  conferred 
upon  me  in  July,  1832.  I  design  to  resign  my  profes- 
sorship in  Franklin  College  as  early  as  I  can,  consistently 
with  duty  and  propriety,  and  hope  to  be  at  Randolph- 
Macon  at  least  as  early  as  the  next  commencement. 

' '  Yours  very  respectfully,  "  S.  OLIN . 

"ATHENS,  Q&.,  January  9,  1833." 

"LAGRANGE,  ALA.,  August  7,  '1832. 

"  DEAR  SIR  :  Your  letter  communicating  the  result  of 
the  late  election  of  officers  for  Randolph- Macon  College 
was  received  eight  or  ten  days  ago. 

"In  relation  to  the  Professorship  of  Languages,  to 
which  the  Trustees  have  done  me  the  honor  to  invite 
me,  I  have  to  say :  In  a  previous  letter  to  you  on  this 
subject  entire  freedom  to  accept  or  decline  was  reserved 
by  me  until  I  could  procure  more  satisfactory  informa- 
tion from  Brother  Paine  concerning  the  prospects  of  the 
institution.  At  this  time  there  exists  no  objection  in  my 
mind,  and  accordingly  I  now  make  known  to  you,  with 
pleasure,  my  acceptance  of  the  appointment,  and  desire 


HI^TOR  Y  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE.     35 

you  to  communicate  the  same  to  the  Board  of  Trus- 
tees. 

' '  Please  accept  for  yourself  and  them  my  sincere  re- 
gard and  best  wishes. 

"With  brotherly  love,  ED.  D.  SIMS. 

"REV.  JOHN  EARLY." 

The  acceptance  of  Dr.  Olin  completed  the  Faculty, 
when  it  came,  several  months  after  the  College  was 
opened.  Rev.  M.  P.  Parks,  professor-elect,  acted  as 
president  until  Dr.  Olin  entered  on  his  duties.  The 
first  Board  of  Instruction  was  as  follows  : 

Rev.  Stephen  Olin,  A.  M.,  D.  D.  (Middlebury  Col- 
lege, Vermont),  President  and  Professor  of  Moral  Science. 

Rev.  Martin  P.  Parks,  graduate  West  Point  Academy, 
Professor  of  Mathematics. 

Landon  C.  Garland,  A.  M.,  Hampden-Sidney  College, 
Virginia,  Professor  of  Natural  Science. 

Rev.  Edward  D.  Sims,  A.  M.,  Chapel  Hill  (N.  C. 
University),  Professor  of  Languages. 

Rev.  Lorenzo  Lea,  A.  B.,  Chapel  Hill  (N.  C.  Uni- 
versity), Principal  of  Preparatory  School. 

It  will  be  appropriate  and  interesting  to  give  sketches 
at  this  point  of  the  men  composing  this  first  Faculty  of 
the  oldest  Methodist  College  now  in  existence  in  Amer- 
ica by  date  of  incorporation  ;  not  simply  on  that  account, 
but  because  they  were  mostly  men  of  great  ability,  and 
made  their  mark  on  the  times  in  which  they  lived  in  a 
way  and  to  an  extent  that  few  others,  if  any,  have  ever 
done  in  the  South. 

Dr.  Stephen  Olin  was  a  native  of  Vermont,  as  was 
Dr.  Wilbur  Fisk,  who,  contemporaneously  with  him, 
was  moving  on  a  parallel  line  at  the  Wesleyan  Univer- 
sity, in  Connecticut.  These  names,  Olin  and  Fisk,  the 


36     HISTOR  Y  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE. 

Church,  and  the  alumni  of  the  colleges  they  presided  over 
will  never  let  die.  Wherever  the  initials  "  S.  O."  and 
"W.  F."  are  seen  in  any  catalogue,  it  will  be  readily 
understood  that  they  respectively  stand  for  these  names, 
and  they  are  common  now,  over  a  half-century  after  the 
principals  ceased  to  live. 

President  Olin  was  a  graduate  of  Middlebury  College, 
Vermont.  He  tobk  the  first  honor  in  his  class.  From 
too  much  confinement  and  over-study  his  health  gave 
way.  On  this  account  he  went  to  South  Carolina,  and 
took  charge  of  an  academy  at  Cokesbury. 

He  was  fortunate  in  casting  his  lot  in  a  very  religious 
community,  whose  leading  men,  patrons  of  the  academy, 
were  pious  Methodists.  He  had  had  no  acquaintance 
with  Methodists.  He  was  not  only  not  a  Christian,  but 
he  had  been  much  troubled  in  his  religious  belief,  and 
was  inclined  to  be  skeptical.  His  views  were  changed 
by  reading  Butler's  Analogy  and  Paley's  Evidences. 

It  was  the  rule  and  custom  at  the  Cokesbury  Academy 
to  open  the  school  with  the  reading  of  the  Scriptures  and 
prayer.  This  requirement  he  had  to  carry  out.  One 
day  while  engaged  in  prayer  he  was  powerfully  con- 
victed, and  immediately  sought  pardon,  and  found  peace 
in  believing.  Very  soon  afterwards  he  felt  called  to 
preach,  and  entered  the  ministry,  and  after  a  few  years 
he  joined  the  Conference,  and  was  appointed  to  a  church 
in  Charleston,  S.  C.  His  health,  however,  allowed  him 
to  remain  but  a  short  time  in  the  itinerancy.  He  ac- 
cepted a  professorship  in  Franklin  College,  Athens,  Ga., 
at  which  institution  he  remained  till  he  left  to  become 
President  of  Randolph-Macon  College. 

Rev.  Solomon  Lea,  who  was  associated  with  Dr.  Olin 
during  his  presidency  at  Randolph-Macon,  gives  the  fol- 
lowing points  in  regard  to  him : 


REV.  STEPHEN  OLIN,  D.  D., 
First  President  of  Randolph- Macon  College. 


HISTOR  Y  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE.      37 

' '  In  his  physique  he  had  large  frame  and  limbs,  but 
was  well  proportioned.  He  had  dreamy  eyes  and  sallow 
complexion,  indicating  deep  affliction.  He  never  saw  a 
well  day,  and  yet  he  faithfully  attended  to  all  his  duties. 
I  have  heard  it  said  that  he  thanked  God  for  his  afflic- 
tion. Like  Paul  he  could  glory  in  his  affliction.  He 
preached  but  seldom  on  account  of  his  health.  I  shall 
never  forget  his  sermons.  The  impression  made  by  them 
seemed  to  follow  me  day  and  night  for  weeks  and  months. 
His  style  and  manner  were  peculiar,  differing  from  any 
other  man  I  ever  heard.  His  language  was  simple,  pure 
English,  free  from  technicalities  and  pompous  words. 
His  manner  rather  labored,  not  from  loudness  of  voice, 
nor  from  gesticulation,  but  his  profound  thoughts  elab- 
orated in  his  giant  mind  seemed  to  struggle  for  utterance. 
There  was  no  attempt  at  what  is  called  eloquence.  I 
have  heard  most  of  the  great  preachers  of  the  day,  some 
of  them  very  great,  but  I  never  heard  the  equal  of  Olin." 

Rev.  Leroy  M.  Lee,  D.  D.,  long  a  member  of  the  Vir- 
ginia Conference,  and  editor  of  the  Conference  paper, 
said  of  Dr.  Olin :  ' '  He  was  the  only  truly  great  man  I 
have  ever  seen  of  whom  I  do  not  feel  constrained  to  say, 
on  analyzing  his  character, 

"'Tis  distance  lends  enchantment  to  the  view.'" 

Rev.  W.  M.  Lewis,  D.  D.,  of  Missouri,  who  spent 
several  years  of  college  life  under  him,  said  of  him : 
"  He  was  of  large  and  majestic  form,  a  physical  and  in- 
tellectual giant,  a  paragon  of  moral  and  religious  excel- 
lence, a  perfect  model  of  a  Christian  gentleman  and 
scholar  and  pulpit  orator.  In  my  opinion  the  church 
has  never  had  a  better  or  greater  man." 

Rev.  W.  B.  Rowzie,  long  connected  with  the  College 
as  Financial  Agent  and  also  as  Chaplain,  said:  "He  was 
a  genial  companion.  No  one  could  be  in  his  society 


38      HISTOR  Y  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE. 

without  feeling  that  he  was  in  the  company  of  one  of  the 
first  men  of  the  age,  and  yet  he  was  modest  and  unas- 
suming, as  if  unconscious  of  his  greatness." 

Dr.  John  E.  Edwards,  who  visited  the  College  fre- 
quently in  its  early  history,  wrote:  "  Dr.  Olin's  personal 
appearance  impressed  me  as  no  other  man  ever  impressed 
me.  The  Greeks  would  have  deified  him  as  a  god." 

W.  F.  Samford,  LL.  D.,  of  Alabama,  who  graduated 
at  Randolph- Macon  College  in  June,  1837,  wrote:  "  Physi- 
cally, intellectually  and  morally,  Stephen  Olin  was  a 
giant — as  veritable  a  one  as  Og,  king  of  Bashan.  He 
might  well  rank  with  the  'mighty  men  who  were  of  old, 
men  of  renown' — -facile  ptinceps  among  all  the  great 
'  men  I  have  ever  known.  The  etymology  of  this  word, 
by  which  I  have  designated  him,  yiyas,  suggests  its  ap- 
propriateness— a  man  of  violence  and  terror.  Without 
the  restraints  of  divine  grace  his  passions  were  volcanic, 
his  ambition  boundless.  He  once  told  me  that  before 
his  conversion  to  Christianity  he  '  would  have  bartered 
a  crown  in  heaven  for  a  seat  in  Congress.'  How  humble, 
how  patient,  how  loving  he  became  as  a  disciple  of  Christ ! 
'  Great,  humble  man  ! '  exclaimed  Dr.  Leroy  Lee,  of  Vir- 
ginia, when  he  met  him  at  the  Conference  in  Lynchburg 
in  1835.  Olin  had  disclosed  his  whole  heart  to  Lee  in  a 
rebuke  which  he  administered  to  him  for  a  display  of 
untempered  zeal  in  a  debate  on  the  Conference  floor — 
'  What  business  have  you  with  any  feelings  in  the  mat- 
ter ?  A  man  of  God  should  be  gentle  and  easy  to  be 
entreated.'" 

It  may  be  thought  that  the  estimates  of  Dr.  Olin  above 
given  were  partial,  and  hence  not  fully  reliable.  It  is 
proper,  therefore,  to  give  the  opinion  of  Rev.  Theo.  L. 
Cuyler,  D.  D.,  one  of  the  most  distinguished  ministers 
of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  and  one  of  the  best  writers 


HISTOR  Y  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE.      39 

of  the  present  century.  He  speaks  of  him  as  President 
of  Wesleyan  University,  Connecticut,  about  ten  years 
after  he  left  Randolph- Macon  : 

"In  physical,  mental,  and  spiritual  stature  combined, 
no  Methodist  in  the  last  generation  towered  above  Dr. 
Stephen  Olin.  He  was  a  great  writer,  a  great  educator, 
and  preeminently  a  great  preacher  of  the  glorious  gos- 
pel. During  the  summer  of  1845,  while  I  was  a  student 
for  the  ministry,  I  spent  some  time  at  Middletown, 
Conn.  Dr.  Olin  was  then  the  President  of  the  Wes- 
leyan University,  and  was  at  the  height  of  his  fame  and 
usefulness.  Like  all  great  men,  he  was  very  simple  and 
unassuming  in  his  manners ;  with  his  grand,  logical 
head  was  coupled  a  warm,  loving  heart.  When  his 
emotional  nature  wTas  once  kindled  it  was  like  a  Penn- 
sylvania anthracite  coal-mine  on  fire.  These  qualities  of 
argumentative  power  and  intense  spiritual  zeal  com- 
bined made  him  a  tremendous  preacher.  Xo  one  doubted 
that  Stephen  Olin  had  the  baptism  of  the  Holy  Spirit. 

' '  In  physical  stature  he  was  a  king  of  men  ;  above  six 
feet  in  height,  he  had  a  broad,  gigantic  frame  and  a 
lofty  brow  that  resembled  the  brow  of  Daniel  Webster. 
The  congregation  of  the  principal  Methodist  Church  in 
Middletown  always  knew  when  Dr.  Olin  was  going  to 
preach ;  for  the  astral  lamps  were  moved  off  the  pulpit 
to  prevent  their  being  smashed  by  the  sweep  of  his  long 
arms.  He  was  a  vehement  speaker,  and  threw  his 
whole  man,  from  head  to  foot,  into  the  tide  of  his  impas- 
sioned oratory.  In  the  blending  of  logical  power  with 
heat  of  spiritual  feeling  and  vigor  of  declamation,  he  was 
unsurpassed  by  any  American  preacher  of  his  time. 
His  printed  discourses  read  well,  but  they  lack  the  elec- 
tricity of  the  moment  and  the  man.  Thunder  and 
lightning  must  be  heard  and  seen  ;  they  cannot  be  trans- 


40      HISTOR  Y  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE. 

ferred  to  paper.  As  I  recall  Olin  now  (after  the  lapse  of 
five  and  forty  years)  ;  as  I  see  him  again  in  the  full  flow 
of  his  majestic  eloquence,  or  when  surrounded  by  his 
students  in  the  class-room,  I  do  not  wonder  that  the 
Middletown  boys  were  ready  to  pit  him  against  any 
president  or  any  preacher  on  the  American  soil.  There 
are  old  graduates  of  the  University  yet  living  who  de- 
light to  think  of  him  and  to  speak  of  him,  and  to  assert 
that 

"  '  Whoso  had  beheld  him  then, 

Had  felt  an  awe  and  admiration  without  dread ; 
And  might  have  said, 

That  sure  he  seemed  to  be  the  king  of  men. 

Less  than  the  greatest  that  he  could  not  be 

Who  carried  in  his  port  such  might  and  majesty.' 

"  In  August,  1851,  I  paid  a  visit  to  Professor  Smith, 
whose  wife  was  my  kinswoman,  and  on  my  arrival  I 
learned  that  the  President  of  the  University  was  danger- 
ously ill.  The  next  morning  my  host  startled  me  with 
the  announcement,  '  Dr.  Olin  is  dead ! '  He  had  fallen 
at  the  age  of  fifty- four,  when  he  was  just  in  his  splendid 
prime.  There  was  great  mourning  for  him  throughout 
the  whole  Methodist  realm,  for  he  was  a  prince  in  their 
Israel,  who  held  an  imperial  rank  above  any  of  his  con- 
temporaries. He  took  a  large  life  with  him  when  he 
went  home  to  heaven;  and  valuable  as  were  his  writ- 
ings, yet  his  imposing  personality  was  greater  than  any 
of  his  published  productions." 

Rev.  Martin  P.  Parks,  Professor  of  Mathematics, 
acted  as  President  of  the  College  from  its  opening  ses- 
sion, in  October,  1832,  until  Dr.  Olin  took  the  place, 
March,  1834.  He  was  a  minister  in  North  Carolina 
when  elected  professor.  He  had  been  educated  at  the 
United  States  Military  Academy  at  West  Point,  New 


HISTOR  Y  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE.     41 

York,  where  mathematics  was  taught  more  thoroughly 
than  at  other  schools  of  that  day.  He  was  a  brilliant 
preacher,  and  on  that  account  he  was  put  forward  fre- 
quently, like  his  contemporaries,  Hammett  and  Maffitt, 
to  advance  the  enterprises  of  the  church.  Of  his  admin- 
istration of  the  College  not  much  can  be  said.  His  mili- 
tary education  had  much  to  do  with  making  the  laws 
exacting  and  minute.  Rev.  Solomon  Lea  (quoted  above) 
said  of  Professor  Parks  : 

"Professor  Parks  was  a  great  and  good  man,  a  fine 
preacher,  was  of  a  sad,  morose  temperament,  arising,  no 
doubt,  mainly  from  his  physical  condition,  as  he  was  a 
great  dyspeptic,  and  the  most  nervous  person  I  ever 
met.  He  could  not  bear  the  crowing  of  a  rooster  or  the 
bleating  of  a  calf ;  this,  together  with  other  considera- 
tions, had  the  tendency  to  make  him  suspicious,  cold, 
and  envious,  so  much  so  that  Dr.  Olin  remarked  to  me 
that  he  had  to  go  often  once  a  month  to  Parks'  house, 
read  a  portion  of  the  Bible,  and  then  pray  together,  and 
part  with  expressions  of  mutual  love  and  kind  feelings. 
This  was  often  done  by  Dr.  Olin.  Poor  Brother  Parks, 
great  and  good  man  as  he  was  (for  I  never  doubted  his 
piety),  finally  yielded  so  much  to  his  temperament 
and  jealous  feelings  as  to  resign  his  position,  withdrew 
from  the  Methodist  Church,  and  joined  the  Episcopa- 
lians." 

Professor  Landon  Cabell  Garland,  first  professor  of 
Natural  Philosophy,  Chemistry  and  Geology,  was  a  native 
of  Nelson  county,  Va.,  of  which  his  father  was  the 
clerk.  He  was  born  March  24,  1810.  At  the  age  of 
nineteen  he  took  his  degree  of  A.  B.  at  Hampden- 
Sidney  College,  Virginia.  Immediately  afterward  he 
was  elected  to  the  chair  of  Chemistry  at  Washington 
College,  Lexington,  Va.,  where  he  continued  till  Octo- 


42     HISTOR  Y  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE. 

her,  1832,  when  he  took  charge  of  the  same  chair  at 
Randolph-Macon.  Bishop  Fitzgerald,  in  Eminent  Meth- 
odists, says  of  him  :  "  His  change  from  Washington 
College  to  Randolph-Macon  was  characteristic  of  Dr. 
Garland.  There  was  more  money  in  the  one  place,  but 
more  usefulness  in  the  other.  He  was  a  Methodist,  and 
he  felt  that  Methodism  had  a  paramount  claim  to  his  ser- 
vices." This  was  indicated  clearly  in  his  letter  of  ac- 
ceptance of  the  place.  Few  men  ever  filled  chairs  at  two 
colleges  at  an  age  just  past  twenty-one.  This  will  indi- 
cate what  estimate  was  placed  on  him  at  so  early  an  age, 
and  what  was  proven  in  this  case  to  have  been  fully 
correct,  by  his  long  service  of  sixty-five  years  as  an  edu- 
cator. Nothing  but  a  most  natural  and  remarkable 
modesty  prevented  him  from  becoming  as  conspicuous 
as  he  was  well  entitled  to  be,  unless  it  was  that  he  spent 
his  long  life  in  the  South,  the  Nazareth  of  the  nation, 
out  of  which  few  ' '  prophets  can  come, ' '  if  we  judge  by 
The  Cyclopaedia  of  Biography,  which  side-tracks  such 
men  as  Garland  and  Duncan,  whose  names  will  shine 
' '  forever  and  ever ' '  when  thousands  of  those  given  in 
full,  with  portraits,  shall  have  been  forgotten,  as  if  they 
never  had  lived. 

If  a  man  could  be  too  modest  and  retiring,  Dr.  Garland 
was  such  a  man.  Notwithstanding  this,  he  lived  to  be- 
come President  of  Randolph-Macon  College  from  1836, 
after  Dr.  Olin  left,  till  1847,  then  Professor  and  President 
of  the  University  of  Alabama,  Professor  in  the  Univer- 
sity of  Mississippi,  and  finally  Chancellor  of  the  Vander- 
bilt  University  at  Nashville,  Tenn.  In  all  these  high 
places  he  influenced  for  good  hundreds  of  young  men 
whose  praise  is  in  all  the  churches  and  homes  of  the 
land.  When  he  died,  in  1895,  these  multiplied  hundreds 
rose  up  and  "called  him  blessed."  If  Virginia  ever 


HISTOR  Y  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE.     43 

gave  birth  to  a  man  who  did  more  real  service  to  the 
manhood  of  the  South,  his  name  and  place  would  be 
hard  to  find. 

Prof.  Edward  Dromgoole  Sims  was  born  in  Brunswick 
county,  Va.,  March  24,  1805.  He  was  the  grandson  of 
Rev.  Edward  Dromgoole,  one  of  the  pioneer  Methodist 
preachers  in  the  State  of  Virginia,  and  one  of  the  trus- 
tees appointed  by  Bishop  Asbury  for  Ebenezer  Academy, 
before  referred  to  as  the  first  Methodist  school  of  its  kind 
in  the  State.*  He  was  a  man  of  talents  and  great  influ- 
ence, and  a  member  of  the  original  Virginia  Conference. 
One  of  his  sons,  George  C.  Dromgoole,  was  a  member 
of  Congress  for  many  years,  and  was  probably  the  most 
talented  and  influential  member  of  the  Virginia  delega- 
tion in  his  day. 

Prof.  Sims  took  his  A.  B.  degree  at  the  University  of 
North  Carolina  in  1824,  and  his  A.  M.  degree  in  1827, 
and  was  a  tutor  at  that  University  for  three  years.  He 
was  a  Professor  at  LaGrange  College,  Alabama,  at  the 
time  he  was  elected  Professor  at  Randolph-Macon.  Like 
Dr.  Olin,  his  personal  appearance  was  very  marked.  He 
was  a  man  of  great  dignity  and  gentlemanly  manner, 
and  a  most  devoted  Christian.  Though  not  endowed  by 
nature  with  the  mental  power  of  others  of  his  associates, 
he  nevertheless,  by  industrious  application,  became  a 
fine  scholar  and  a  model  professor.  He  was  the  origi- 
nator of  the  "English  Course"  in  colleges,  of  which 
more  will  be  said  further  on.  His  department  embraced 
the  "Ancient  Languages." 

The  Preparatory  Department  was  under  the  control  of 
Rev.  Lorenzo  Lea,  an  A.  M.  of  the  University  of  North 
Carolina,  and  a  native  of  North  Carolina.  His  contem- 

*This  school  was  established  in  1796,  instead  of  1786,  as  the 
Records  of  Brunswick  County,  recently  found,  show. 


44      HISTOR  Y  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE. 

poraries  spoke  well  of  him  as  a  man  of  fine  accomplish- 
ments and  skill  as  a  teacher.  He  also  had  been  a  tutor 
at  his  Alma  Mater. 

Thus  equipped,  Randolph-Macon  College  entered  on 
its  career — a  career  full  of  unforeseen  trials  and  difficulties. 
It  was  to  a  great  extent  a  new  experiment,  and  the  great 
need  of  the  College,  without  which  few,  if  any,  have 
ever  lived  beyond  a  sickly  existence,  that  is,  a  proper 
endowment,  was  a  desideratum  unprovided  for  at  this  time. 
The  funds  on  hand  and  subscriptions  did  not  suffice  to 
supply  the  buildings  necessary  and  other  outfit.  Other 
colleges  of  the  Methodist  Church  in  distant  States  had 
entered  on  the  same  course.  They  had  gone  down  or 
were  soon  to  go  down.  This  one  now  to  be  launched, 
under  the  good  providence  and  blessing  of  God,  was  to 
survive  the  chill  of  poverty  and  the  disasters  of  war — 
cast  down  often,  but  not  destroyed.  After  over  a  half- 
century  of  struggle  it  was  to  anchor  in  a  safe  haven. 
Hope  kindly  blinded  the  eyes  of  those  who  launched  the 
ship  and  prophesied  a  prosperous  voyage.  Faith  sowed 
in  tears  ofttimes,  and  after  many  days  gathered  in  the 
precious  harvest.  It  was  to  be  indeed  Alma  Mater  to 
many  sons,  and  daughters,  too,  and  a  mother  of  many 
other  Methodist  colleges,  blessing  every  State  in  the 
South,  some  of  them  surpassing  in  outfit  and  endowment 
the  mother.  As  a  loving  mother  rejoices  with  and  in 
her  daughters,  so  does  Randolph-Macon  rejoice  in  the 
colleges  of  the  church  she  has  lived  to  see  grow  and 
nourish. 

Before  proceeding  further,  let  us  look  at  the  location 
and  outfit  of  the  College  at  the  opening  day. 

The  first  College  building  erected  stood  on  gently  rising 
ground,  one  mile  west  of  the  village  of  Boydton,  in  the 
centre  of  what  had  been  a  race-track.  On  the  north  was 


m- 


•5.  BE  K. 


—        V? 

o  ^ 

Q 


HIS'TOR  Y  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE.     45 

an  "old  field,"  once  cultivated,  but  now  partially  covered 
with  pine  and  broom -sedge,  a  part  seamed  with  gulleys. 
One  splendid  sweet-gum  tree  fronted  the  west  wing.  On 
the  south  there  were  small  oaks  of  second  growth,  just 
large  enough  to  furnish  partial  shade.  Outside  of  the 
campus  further  on  were  thickets  on  both  sides  of  the 
avenue  leading  to  the  Clarksville  road.  The  campus 
contained  about  four  acres,  and  was  enclosed  by  a  heavy 
wooden  fence.  The  style  of  the  building  is  shown  on 
the  opposite  page. 

The  centre  building  contained  the  chapel  on  the  north 
side — a  room  about  fifty-two  feet  by  thirty-two,  with 
galleries  on  all  sides  but  one.  The  other  parts  of  this 
building  were  arranged  for  lecture-rooms,  laboratory  and 
halls  for  the  literary  societies.  The  wings  of  the  centre 
building  contained  each  twenty-four  dormitories,  each 
large  enough  for  two  occupants.  Until  the  Professors' 
houses  were  built  there  was  not  a  dwelling-house  nearer 
than  Boydton.  Soon  after  the  College  was  built,  an 
avenue  was  opened  from  it  to  Boydton,  bringing  the 
College  building  and  the  village  in  sight  of  each  other. 
Clarksville,  a  town  of  some  importance  in  the  tobacco 
trade,  was  twelve  miles  distant.  Here  was  a  bank  and 
mercantile  and  tobacco  houses. 

The  country  around  was  such  as  was  usual  in  the  up- 
lands of  South-side  Virginia,  fairly  productive  of  tobacco 
and  grain.  Petersburg  was  the  nearest  town  of  much 
size.  To  this  town,  about  seventy  miles  away,  much  of 
the  products  of  the  country  was  wagoned  over  a  dirt  road, 
indifferently  good  in  some  seasons  and  almost  impassi- 
ble in  others.  The  people  around  the  College  were  kind 
and  hospitable,  representative  of  old  Virginia  in  those 
days,  not  Methodist  particularly  in  their  persuasion ;  the 
more  wealthy  inclined  to  the  Episcopal  Church.  There 


46      HISTOR  Y  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE. 

was  an  old  Methodist  Church  in  Boydton,  but  after  the 
College  was  built  the  chapel  became  the  worshipping 
place  for  the  Methodists  of  the  community. 

The  Preparatory  School,  a  building  containing  two 
school-rooms,  stood  about  a  mile  away  from  the  College. 

The  "Steward's  Hall,"  a  two-story  brick  building, 
fronted  the  College  building  on  the  north,  intended  to 
afford  board  for  the  students.  In  "  old  Virginia  "  style, 
this  was  several  hundred  yards  distant  from  the  College 
building. 

The  President's  house  stood  about  the  same  distance 
away.  It  was  a  plain  brick  building  of  one  story.  To 
the  south  and  southwest  other  professors'  houses  were 
located,  all  with  a  sufficiency  of  land  for  gardens  and 
lawns. 

' '  The  Hotel ' '  was  built  soon  after  the  College  was 
opened,  about  a  quarter  of  a  mile  to  the  south,  on  the 
Clarksville  road.  This  had  about  a  dozen  rooms  in  it, 
and  was  intended  mainly  for  the  boys  at  the  Preparatory 
School  and  to  accommodate  visitors. 

It  will  be  seen  that  the  Building  Committee  had  much 
to  do  before  suitable  accommodations  could  be  provided 
for  the  professors  and  students.  That  many  mistakes 
were  made  in  this  work,  and  in  the  location  of  the  build- 
ings and  other  matters,  was  not  to  be  wondered  at. 
They  were  the  result  of  inexperience  in  the  men  in 
charge,  not  of  any  want  of  good  intention  and  effort  on 
their  part.  When  it  is  considered  that  all  the  lumber 
for  the  buildings  had  to  be  sawed  by  the  old-fashioned 
"pit-saw,"  and  much  of  the  other  material  had  to  be 
wagoned  for  seventy  miles,  we  must  not  wonder  that 
two  years  were  consumed  in  bringing  the  buildings  to 
partial  completion. 

As  the  buildings  stood  when  completed,  they  were  as 


HISTOR  Y  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE.     47 

good  as  those  of  any  other  college  in  the  State  had,  and 
possibly  better.  The  University  of  Virginia,  opened 
in  1825,  had  better  and  more  extensive  ones. 

The  regular  exercises  of  the  College  proper  commenced 
on  the  day  appointed,  October  gth,  1832,  Prof.  M.  P. 
Parks  acting  as  President,  in  the  absence  of  President 
Olin. 

If  any  account  of  the  opening-day  exercises  were  pub- 
lished it  has  not  come  down  to  us.  The  first  schedule 
of  expenses  was  as  follows : 

Tuition  fee  for  session  of  ten  months,  ....  $30  oo 

Board  (meals  only), 60  oo 

Bedding  and  washing, 20  oo 

Fuel, 3  oo 

Lights, 3  oo 

Deposit  fee, 5  oo 

Total $120  oo 

The  first  meeting  of  the  Board  of  Trustees  after  the 
opening  was  held  February  5,  1833. 

At  this  meeting  the  following  communication  from  the 
Georgia  Conference  was  received : 

"LAGRANGE,  Ga. 

"We  feel  a  deep  interest  in  the  success  of  Randolph  - 
Macon  College.  We  have  full  confidence  in  its  moral 
and  literary  character  and  prospects,  and  we  will  recom- 
mend it  to  the  patronage  of  all  who  may  be  disposed  to 
send  their  sons  or  wards  beyond  the  limits  of  the  State 
to  be  educated. 

' '  We  will  appoint  four  Trustees  agreeable  to  the  pro- 
posal made  by  Brother  Early,  the  Agent  of  the  College, 
who  visited  us.  Whereupon  the  Conference  nominated 
the  Rev.  Ignatius  Few  and  Rev.  Lovick  Pierce,  mem- 
bers of  the  Conference,  and  Seaborn  Jones  and  John  C. 
Poythress,  Esquires,  for  that  purpose. 


48      HISTOR  Y  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE. 

"Resolved,  That  the  Trustees  of  Randolph- Macon  Col- 
lege be  invited  through  their  representative,  the  Rev. 
John  Early,  to  send  an  agent,  whenever  they  may  judge 
it  most  suitable,  to  obtain  donations  within  the  Con- 
ference in  aid  of  the  institution ;  and  that  Brother  Early 
be,  and  he  is  hereby,  invited  to  take  up  contributions. 
"(Signed)  JNO.  HOWARD, 

' '  Sec'y  Georgia  Conference. ' ' 

The  nominees  named  above  were  elected  Trustees  of 
the  College. 

Rev.  I.  A.  Few  and  Rev.  L.  Pierce  were,  by  resolu- 
tion of  the  Board,  requested  to  act  as  agents  for  the  Col- 
lege in  the  Boards  of  the  Georgia  Conference  for  securing 
funds  for  the  College. 

Rev.  RobertG.  Loving,  A.  B.,  was  elected  assistant 
teacher  in  the  Preparatory  School. 

Rev.  John  Early  was  appointed  Agent  for  the  College  in 
the  place  of  Rev.  H.  G.  Leigh,  resigned,  and  Rev.  W.  A. 
Smith  was  appointed  Assistant  Agent  in  place  of  Rev. 
William  Hammett  who  had  signified  his  intention  to  re- 
sign. 

The  salary  of  President  Olin  was  fixed  at  $1,500. 

The  first  report  of  the  Faculty,  made  through  its  Sec- 
retary, Prof.  Garland,  gave  the  following  points  of  in- 
terest : 

Though  the  session  opened  under  many  difficulties  and 
embarrassments,  with  buildings  not  entirely  completed, 
still  great  satisfaction  was  expressed  at  the  success  at- 
tained, and  at  the  spirit  and  character  of  the  students  who 
attended  the  first  term.  A  number  of  these  were  from 
the  States  of  North  and  South  Carolina  and  Georgia. 
The  progress  made  in  the  College  course  had  been  marked 
and  satisfactory.  The  main  drawback  had  been  in  some 
cases  a  want  of  preparation  for  the  course. 


HISTOR  Y  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE.     49 

The  Faculty  made  a  strong  appeal  for  apparatus  for 
the  Natural  Science  Department  and  for  a  library.  In 
response  to  this  appeal,  the  Board  made  an  appropriation 
of  $2,600  to  the  former  and  $1,000  to  the  latter. 

The  first  session  closed  July  4,  1833.  At  the  close 
Rev.  William  M.  Wightman,  one  of  the  trustees  from 
South  Carolina,  delivered  the  first  literary  address  before 
the  students  and  the  public,  at  the  request  of  the  Wash- 
ington Literary  Society.  This  Society  had  been  organ- 
ized February,  1833.  As  it  has  been  one  of  the  main 
features  of  the  College,  along  with  its  sister  society,  the 
Franklin,  it  will  be  interesting  to  give  the  names  of  its 
officers  and  members  from  the  original  records : 

President,  ROBERT  T.  MARSHALL,  Virginia. 

Vice-President,  THOMAS  ADAMS,  Virginia. 
Secretary,  JOHN  G.  PARKS,  Virginia. 

Treasurer,  ADDISON  LEA,  North  Carolina. 
Collector,  ISAAC  C.  CROFT,  South  Carolina, 
Censor,  J.  G.  BANKS,  Virginia. 

Members. 

ADAMS,  R.  E.  G.,  ....  Va.  PRICE,  NATHANIELS.,  .    .  Va. 

BAIRD,  CHARLES  W. , .  .    .  Va.  SOMERVILI.E,  R.  B.,  .    .    .  N.  C. 

BLACKWELL,  THOMAS,  .    .  Va.  SMITH,  WILLIAM  B.,  .  .    .  Va. 

COLEMAN,  J.  J., Va.  TUCKER,  JOHN  E.,  .  .    .    .  Va. 

GOODE,  ROBERT  S Va.  W  ATKINS,  J.  W.,    ....  Va. 

HAMLIN,  JOHN  F.,  .  .    .    .  Va.  WILLIAMSON,  JAMES  J.,  .  .  Va. 

INGRAM,  ROBT.  M.,   .    .    .  N.  C.  WILLIAMS,  JAMES  M.,   .    .  Va. 

ISBELL,  THOMAS  M.,  .    .    .  Va.  WINKIELD,  JOHN  O.,  .  .    .  Va. 

JONES,  JAMES  R Va.  WINFIELD,  W.  S.,  .    .    .    .  Va 

JONES,  ROBERT  T Va. 

Immediately  after  the  organization  the  following  were 
introduced  and  made  members  : 

BI.AIN,  GEO.  W.,    ....  Va.  DORRELL,  AUGUSTUS,   .    .  S.   C. 

BURNEY,  JAMES, N.  C.  DRINKARD,  W.  R., ....  Va. 

CALDWELL,  JOHN  H.,    .    .  N.  C.  Du  PRE,  WARREN,.  .    .    .  S.  C. 

CUTLER,  ROBERT  E.,    .    .  Va.  GAYLE,  ALEX.  T.,  .    .    .    .  Va. 


50     HISTOR  Y  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE. 

GUNN,  ALLEN  M.,  .    .    .    .  N.  C.  PERKINS,  J.  Q.  A N.  C. 

JENNINGS,  JONA.  B.,  .    .    .  S.   C.  STEWART,  THEO.,  ....  Ga 

LYNCH,  MONTGOMERY,  .  .  Va.  STRATTON,  R.  B.,  .    .    .    .  Va. 
OWEN,  WASHINGTON  A.,  .  Va. 

To  this  Society  was  assigned  the  northeast  room  on 
the  fourth  floor  of  the  centre  building.  One  of  the  first 
acts  of  the  Society  was  the  formation  of  a  library,  which 
rapidly  increased,  and  in  ten  years  numbered  two  thou- 
sand volumes. 

Not  only  did  the  society  rapidly  accumulate  a  library, 
but  the  hall  was  fitted  up  with  a  beautiful  rostrum, 
president's  chair,  etc.  A  full  length  portrait  of  Wash- 
ington was  purchased,  which  to  this  day  is  the  chief 
ornament  of  the  hall. 

Professor  Warren  Du  Pre,  class  of  1836,  one  of  the 
original  members,  who  was  a  member  when  this  portrait 
was  bought,  wrote  an  account  of  the  inauguration  of  it  to 
the  author,  which  is  worthy  of  preservation. 

"MARTHA  WASHINGTON  COLLEGE, 

"ABINGDON,  VA.,  May  jo,  187 7. 

' '  MY  DEAR  OLD  COLLEGE  FRIEND  :  I  have  forgotten 
the  name  of  the  artist,  a  rising  young  man  in  New  York, 
who  copied  it  from  a  painting  belonging  to  a  wealthy 
gentleman  of  that  city.  Dr.  Olin  was  on  a  visit  to  New 
York,  and  we  put  the  matter  in  his  hands.  The  artist 
was  very  highly  recommended  to  him  by  good  judges. 
His  price  was  $600,  but  when  informed  by  Dr.  Olin  that 
it  was  for  a  college  literary  society,  he  agreed  to  deduct 
one  half.  The  frame,  I  think,  cost  $60,  and  freight 
about  $20,  making  a  total  of  $380. 

"Dr.  Olin  scolded  us  for  our  extravagance,  but  when 
the  portrait  was  finished,  moderated  his  wrath.  The 
amount  was  raised  by  subscription,  altogether,  among 
the  members  of  the  society — we  numbered  then  over 
sixty  members,  as  well  as  I  can  recollect.  I.  C.  Croft 


HISTOR  Y  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE.      51 

and  myself  were  on  the  committee,  with  one  other,  pro- 
bably, J.  O.  Wingfield. 

' '  When  the  portrait  arrived  and  was  placed  in  the  hall, 
old  John  Blackwell,  with  his  horse-collar  legs  (as  Croft 
called  them)  was  appointed  to  unveil  it  and  make  a 
speech.  This  he  did  in  his  peculiar  style ;  and  I  think 
Old  George  was  pleased  with  the  eulogy  delivered  on 
him .  ' '  Yours  truly, 

"WARREN  Du  PRE." 

Rev.  John  Early,  who  had  been  appointed  to  visit  the 
Baltimore  Annual  Conference  of  the  M.  E.  Church,  re- 
ported to  the  Board  that  the  Conference  had  declined  to  co- 
operate in  the  College  enterprise,  with  kind  expressions 
of  interest  in  it.  Dickinson  College  had  recently  been 
made  a  Methodist  College,  and  the  Conference  preferred 
to  patronize  that,  it  being  more  accessible  to  their  people. 

The  charter  of  the  College  having  been  amended,  so 
that  a  president  of  the  Board  could  be  elected  by  that 
body,  Rev.  John  Early  was  elected  President. 

The  following  resolution  was  unanimously  adopted  by 
the  Board : 

' '  The  Board  take  great  pleasure  in  giving  a  cordial 
expression  of  their  thanks  to  the  Faculty  of  this  institu- 
tion for  the  very  able  and  faithful  manner  in  which  they 
have  discharged  the  duties  of  their  several  stations.  We 
consider  them  as  having  acted  on  the  great  principles  on 
which  the  College  was  founded,  and  upon  the  contin- 
uance of  which  its  prosperity  in  the  future  depends  ;  and 
we  have  full  confidence  in  their  ability  and  disposition  to 
support  these  principles  in  their  future  administration, 
and  they  are  therefore  worthy  of  the  same  confidence 
from  the  numerous  friends  and  patrons  of  the  College 
and  the  warm  affection  of  the  young  gentlemen  who 
may  be  placed  under  their  care. 


52     HISTOR  Y  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE. 

' '  It  is  the  pleasure  of  the  Board  that  these  resolutions 
be  read  to  the  students  of  the  College." 

The  second  session  of  the  College  opened  September  4, 
1833,  under  favorable  circumstances.  A  laboratory  and 
library  had  been  purchased,  and  the  latter  had  been  in- 
creased by  donations.  Bishop  J.  O.  Andrew  had  donated 
forty-three  volumes,  and  Judge  A.  B.  Longstreet  thirty. 

A  few  days  after  the  session  opened  another  literary 
society  was  formed.  It  was  first  styled  the  Union  Lit- 
erary Society,  but  on  the  yth  of  September,  at  the  next 
meeting,  the  name  was  changed  to  Franklin.  At  the 
organization  George  Stewart,  of  Georgia,  presided,  and 
William  C.  Knight,  of  Virginia,  acted  as  secretary.  The 
following  constituted  its  first  regular  organization  : 

President,  JAMES  L.  BROWN,  Virginia. 
Vice-President,  JOHN  A.  TALLEY,  Virginia. 
Secretary,  GEORGE  STEWART,  Georgia. 
Treasurer,  THOMAS  S.  JACOCKS,  North  Carolina. 
Collector,  JOSEPH  B.  PANNILL,  Virginia. 
Censor,  FRANCIS  W.  BOYD,  Virginia. 

Members. 

BATTE,  W.  C., Va.  KITE,  BENJAMIN  \V Va. 

BETTS,  WILLIAM  S.,  .    .    .  Va.  JEFFRESS,  LUTHER  C.,  .    .  Va. 

BLAKE,  CHARLES  H.,  .  .    .  Va.  JONES,  ALBERT  C Va. 

BLAND,  WILLIAM  R.,    .    .  Va.  JONES,  AMOS  W.,  .    .    .    .  N.  C. 

BLUNT,  WALTER  F.,  .    .    .  Va.  JONES,  JOHN  J N.  C. 

BOISSEAU,  GEORGE  F.,  .    .  Va.  JONES,  JOSEPHS.,  .    .    .    .  N.  C. 

CARROLL,  JAMES,    ....  Va.  KNIGHT,  WILLIAM  v.  .,  .    .  Va. 

CLAIBORNE,  FIELD,    .    .    .  Va.  MULLEN,  FRANCIS  N.,  .    .  N.  C. 

CLEGG,  BAXTER, N.  C.  OLDS,  LEWIS  P.,    .    .    .    .  N.  C. 

CLEMMONS,  JUNIUS  L.,  .  .  N.  C.  PERKINS,  NATHAN,    .    .    .  N.  C. 

DAVIS,  ARTHUR, Va.  ROSE,  GARLAND, Va. 

DORTCH,  ISAAC  F  ,    .    .    .  N.  C.  STEDMAN,  EDWARD,  .    .    .  N.  C. 

DRINKARD,  WILLIAM  R.,  .  Va.  STOCKDELL,  JOHN  M.,  .    .  Va. 

EVANS,  AUGUSTUS  C.,  .    .  N.  C.  TILLETT,  JOHN, N.  C. 

HICKS,  BENJAMIN  I Va.  WILLIAMS,  SOLOMON  P.,  .  N.  C 


HISTORY  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE.      53 

The  Franklin  Hall  was  immediately  under  the  Wash- 
ington, on  the  third  story.  The  rivalry  between  these 
societies  was  from  the  first  strong,  but  regulated  by  con- 
ventional rules.  The  membership  took  in  every  student 
in  the  College  at  the  beginning  and  for  many  years 
afterwards.  There  was  only  one  from  Georgia  for  many 
years  a  member  of  the  Washington  Society,  and  no  one 
from  South  Carolina  was  ever  a  member  of  the  Franklin. 
Students  from  the  other  States  were  divided  about 
equally.  Robert  E.  Cutler,  of  Virginia,  gave  tone  to  the 
oratorical  style  of  the  Washington,  and  William  F.  Sam- 
ford,  of  Georgia,  to  the  Franklin.  The  difference  was 
thought  to  be  observable  for  thirty  years,  until  the  year 
the  societies  were  temporarily  disbanded. 

No  catalogue  of  students  was  published  in  the  early 
years  of  the  College.  The  only  publication  made  was 
' '  The  Charter  and  Laws  of  Randolph- Mac  on  College,  with 
the  Names  of  the  Trustees  and  Faculty,  and  the  Course  of 
Studies.  Richmond:  Printed  by  Nesbitt  &  WTalker. 
1833."  This  prescribed  four  courses  in  the  College, 
viz.,  Languages  (Latin  and  Greek),  Mathematics,  Natu- 
ral Science,  and  Ethics.  Upon  the  completion  of  these 
four  courses  the  degree  of  Bachelor  of  Arts  was  conferred 
by  the  Trustees,  on  the  recommendation  of  the  Faculty. 
No  A.  M.  degree  course  was  prescribed,  but  all  A.  B. 
men  could  claim  A.  M.  degrees  who  could  show  that 
they  had  continued  their  studies  or  pursued  courses  of 
professional  study  for  three  years. 

Dr.  Stephen  Olin,  president-elect,  gave  up  his  place  at 
Franklin  College,  Georgia,  December,  1833,  and  made 
his  preparations  to  take  the  presidency  at  Randolph- 
Macon.  Of  this  move  he  wrote  Bishop  J.  O.  Andrew: 
' '  Upon  the  whole,  I  trust  the  hand  of  God  is  in  these  in- 
dications, and  that  our  church  will  see  and  obey  it.  My 


54     HISTOR  Y  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE. 

vocation  may  have  given  a  wrong  bias  to  my  views,  but 
I  must  regard  the  subject  of  education  as  the  highest 
after  the  living  ministry ;  nor  do  I  believe  it  possible  for 
our  church  to  maintain  its  ground,  to  say  nothing  of  its 
fulfilling  its  high  obligation  to  Christ  and  the  world, 
without  a  great  and  immediate  reformation.  I  was 
never  so  convinced  that  we  must  educate  our  own  youth 
in  our  own  schools,  and  there  is  no  work  to  which  I  so 
desire  to  consecrate  myself. ' '  On  his  way  to  Virginia 
he  visited  the  South  Carolina  Conference  at  Charleston. 
Here  he  ably  advocated  the  College,  and  secured  a  pledge 
from  the  Conference  to  endow  a  professorship,  the  first 
we  hear  of  endowment.  The  whole  journey  was  made 
in  his  private  carriage,  his  wife  accompanying  him.  To 
her  he  dictated  his  "Inaugural  Address,"  which  she 
wrote  out.  Reaching  the  College  after  a  long  and  tedious 
journey,  he  delivered  the  address  in  the  College  chapel. 
This  address  produced  a  profound  impression  on  those 
who  heard  and  on  those  who  read  it.  It  was  published 
in  the  journals  of  the  day,  and  was  highly  praised. 
Governor  Tazewell  said  he  had  "never  heard  or  read 
any  similar  address  of  equal  ability  so  well  suited  to 
such  an  occasion."  It  is  well  worthy  of  republication 
in  this  history,  but  space  will  not  permit.  To  show  its 
chief  point,  the  following  extracts  are  given : 
.  "In  proportion  as  virtue  is  more  valuable  than  know- 
ledge, pure  and  enlightened  morality  will  be  regarded  by 
every  considerate  father  the  highest  recommendation  of 
a  literary  institution.  The  youth  is  withdrawn  from  the 
salutary  restraints  of  parental  influence  and  authority 
and  committed  to  other  guardians  at  a  time  of  life  most 
decisive  of  his  prospects  and  destinies.  The  period  de- 
voted to  education  usually  impresses  its  own  character 
upon  all  his  future  history.  Vigilant  supervision,  em- 


HIST  OR  Y  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE.      55 

ployment  and  seclusion  from  all  facilities  and  temptations 
to  vice  are  the  ordinary  and  essential  securities  which 
every  institution  of  learning  is  bound  to  provide  for  the 
sacred  interests  which  are  committed  to  its  charge.  But 
safeguards  and  negative  provisions  are  not  sufficient. 
The  tendencies  of  our  nature  are  retrograde,  and  they 
call  for  the  interposition  of  positive  remedial  influences. 
The  most  perfect  human  society  speedily  degenerates  if 
the  active  agencies  which  were  employed  in  its  elevation 
are  once  withdrawn  or  suspended.  What,  then,  can  be 
expected  of  inexperienced  youth  sent  forth  from  the  at- 
mosphere of  domestic  piety  and  left  to  the  single  support 
of  its  own  untested  and  unsettled  principles  in  the  midst 
of  circumstances  which  often  prove  fatal  to  the  most 
practiced  virtue !  I  frankly  confess  that  I  see  no  safety 
but  in  the  preaching  of  the  cross  and  in  a  clear  and  un- 
faltering exhibition  of  the  doctrines  and  sanctions  of 

Christianity Christianity  is  our  birthright.     It 

is  the  richest  inheritance  bequeathed  us  by  our  noble 
fathers.  Are  the  guardians  of  public  education  alone 
'  halting  between  two  opinions '  ?  Do  they  think  that, 
in  fact  and  for  practical  purposes,  the  truth  of  Chris- 
tianity is  still  a  debatable  question  ?  Is  it  still  a  ques- 
tion whether  the  generations  yet  to  rise  up  and  occupy 
the  wide  domain  of  this  great  empire,  to  be  representa- 
tives of  our  name,  our  freedom,  and  our  glory  before  the 
nations  of  the  earth,  shall  be  a  Christian  or  infidel  peo- 
ple? Can  wise  and  practical  men,  who  are  engaged  in 
rearing  up  a  temple  of  learning  to  form  the  character  and 
destinies  of  their  posterity,  for  a  moment  hesitate  to  make 
'  Jesus  Christ  the  chief  corner-stone '  ? " 

When  President  Olin  took  charge  of  the  College  he 
found  the  system  of  departments  somewhat  elective. 
This  was  changed,  on  his  recommendation,  to  a  curricu- 


56      HISTOR  Y  OF  KANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE. 

lum  of  four  classes,  by  the  unanimous  vote  of  the  Fac- 
ulty. 

At  the  annual  meeting  of  the  Board,  June,  1834,  an 
additional  college  building  was  ordered  to  be  built,  a  four- 
story  brick  one,  to  contain  thirty-two  dormitories,  adja- 
cent to  the  main  building.  This  was  to  supply  rooms 
for  the  increased  number  of  students. 

The  salaries  of  full  professors  was  fixed  at  $1,000. 

The  following  resolution  was  adopted  : 

4 '  That  whereas  the  South  Carolina  and  Georgia  Con- 
ferences have  manifested  a  deep  interest  in  the  perma- 
nent establishment  of  Randolph-Macon  College  by  each 
agreeing  to  raise  a  sum  sufficient  to  endow  a  professor- 
ship, and  in  consideration  of  which  professorships  they 
ask  the  privilege  of  sending,  perpetually,  the  former 
Conference  five  and  the  latter  seven  students,  to  be  edu- 
cated free  of  tuition  fees  ;  and  whereas  we  highly  appre- 
ciate the  generous  spirit  of  said  Conferences,  therefore 
we  hereby  agree  to  receive  ten  from  each  of  these  Con- 
ferences free  of  tuition  fees." 

As  further  evidence  of  the  interest  felt  by  these  Con- 
ferences, it  was  noted  that  Rev.  W.  M.  Wightman,  of 
South  Carolina,  and  Dr.  Lovick  Pierce  and  Mr.  E.  Sin- 
clair, of  Georgia,  attended  the  meeting  of  the  Board  at 
this  session. 

.At  the  annual  meeting  held  June,  1835,  Professor  E. 
D.  Sims  was  granted  leave  to  visit  Europe  to  prosecute 
the  study  of  Modern  Languages,  and  particularly  Anglo- 
Saxon  and  Gothic,  preparatory  to  the  more  thorough 
teaching  of  the  English  language.  This,  so  far  as  we 
know,  was  the  first  move  made  by  any  college  in 
America,  and  marks  an  epoch  in  that  department.  Prof. 
J.  B.  Henneman,  in  the  Sewanee  Re-view,  in  a  sketch  of 
the  teaching  of  English,  in  American  colleges,  gives  the 


HISTOR  Y  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE.      57 

credit  of  inaugurating  the  English  course  to  Randolph- 
Macon  College. 

A  distinct  and  special  effort  was  made  at  this  meeting 
of  the  Board  to  endow  a  professorship,  and  the  President 
of  the  Board  made  a  subscription  towards  it  of  two  hun- 
dred dollars.  This  was  to  be  called  the  Virginia  Con- 
ference Scholarship. 


JOHN  C.   BLACKWELL,   D.   D.,  (A.   V,.,    183$). 

To  fill  the  vacancy  caused  by  Prof.  Sims'  absence  in 
Europe,  Rev.  George  F.  Pierce,  of  Georgia,  was  elected 
Professor  of  Languages. 

At  this  commencement  the  first  degree  of  A.  B.  was 
conferred.  The  recipient  was  John  C.  Black  well,  of 
Lunenburg  county.  He  was  a  typical  alumnus,  the 
leader  of  a  great  host  that  followed  him,  who  lived  to 


53     HISTOR  Y  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE. 

bless  the  world  by  their  example  and  teaching.  Begin- 
ning his  active  life  after  graduation  as  a  tutor  in  Ran- 
dolph-Macon  College,  he  continued  to  teach  until, he 
became  enfeebled  by  age.  He  founded  the  "  Hinton  Hill 
Academy ' '  in  his  native  county,  and  taught  there  for 
nine  years.  He  was  then,  in  1848,  elected  President  of 
the  "Buckingham  Female  Institute,"  a  school  for'girls, 
founded  by  the  Virginia  Annual  Conference,  one  of  the 
best,  as  it  was  the  first,  built  by  the  church,  in  the  State. 
He  was,  after  this  school  was  broken  up  by  the  war, 
made  President  of  the  Petersburg  Female  College.  This, 
too,  was  broken  up  by  the  war.  After  the  war  he  was 
elected  Professor  of  Chemistry  in  Randolph- Macon  Col- 
lege, just  prior  to  the  removal  of  the  College  to  Ashland. 
He  closed  a  long  and  useful  life  as  President  of  the 
"Danville  School  for  Young  Ladies."  During  all  his 
active  life  he  was  a  local  minister  of  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal Church,  and  preached  as  he  had  opportunity.  He 
received  the  degree  of  Doctor  of  Divinity  from  his  Alma 
Mater.  The  number  of  young  people  brought  into  the 
church  through  his  instrumentality  have  been  counted 
by  the  hundred.  The  first  to  receive  a  degree,  he  was 
the  first  alumnus  to  have  a  son  and  a  grandson  to  receive 
the  same.  He  died  February  i,  1885.  He  was  elected 
tutor  in  the  College  June,  1835. 

.  Changes  had  occurred  during  the  year.  Fisher  A. 
Foster  had  been  elected  Principal  of  the  Preparatory 
School  in  place  of  Lorenzo  Lea.  Rev.  Jno.  A.  Miller 
and  Rev.  John  Kerr  had  been  elected  assistant  agents  in 
place  of  Rev.  W.  A.  Smith  and  Rev.  Thos.  Crowder. 
The  Treasurer,  John  W.  Lewis,  had  died  during  the 
year;  Beverly  Sydnor  was  elected  in  his  place.  Bishop 
J.  O.  Andrew  was  elected  a  Trustee  in  place  of  Major 
Speer,  of  South  Carolina  ;  Hugh  A.  Garland  in  place  of 


HISTOR  Y  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE.      59 

J.  W.   Lewis,  deceased,  and  M.   M.   Dance  in  place  of 
Green  Penn,  resigned. 

COLLEGE  YEAR  1835-1836. 

This  year  was  successful  under  the  guidance  of  Presi- 
dent Olin,  who  was  still  in  feeble  health. 


•  REV.  ALFRED  T.   MANN,  A.    B.,   D.   I). 

An  Effective  .Minister  in  the  Georgia  Conference  Sixty  Years  Ago. 

Prof.  M.  P.  Parks  resigned  at  the  close  of  the  session; 
Prof.  Garland  was  transferred  from  the  chair  of  Natural 
Science  to  fill  the  vacancy  thus  made.  Robert  Tolfree, 
of  New  York,  took  Prof.  Garland's  chair.  Rev.  Mr. 


60      HISTOR  Y  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE. 

Tomlinson  was  elected  to  the  chair  of  English  Litera- 
ture. 

The  degree  of  A.  B.  was  conferred  June,  1836,  on  the 
following  graduates:  John  O.  Winfield,  Virginia;  Ad- 
dison  Lea,  North  Carolina;  Robert  S.  Goode,  Virginia; 
Charles  W.  Baird,  Virginia;  Alfred  T.  Mann,  Georgia; 
Thomas  M.  Isbell,  Virginia. 

So  feeble  had  the  health  of  Dr.  Olin  become  that  he 
asked,  in  June,  1836,  leave  of  absence  to  visit  Europe, 
which  was  granted  with  great  reluctance  by  the  Board. 

The  following  quotation  from  the  Life  and  Letters  of 
President  Olin  is  given  as  a  closing  reference  to  his  presi- 
dency. He  saw  the  College  for  the  last  time  March,  1837 : 

"The  last  Commencement  at  which  Dr.  Olin  presided 
during  his  connection  with  Randolph- Macon  College 
was  in  June,  1836 

"The  conviction  grew  upon  him,  from  many  unmis- 
takable indications,  that  his  health  must  rapidly  break 
up,  unless  a  year  or  two  of  retirement  from  intellectual 
labor  and  all  kinds  of  mental  excitement,  and  devoted 
to  foreign  travel,  should,  under  the  blessing  of  God,  re- 
store him.  The  return  of  cool  weather  in  the  autumn 
and  approaching  winter  failed  to  recruit  his  shattered 
nerves  or  restore  his  health.  His  course  was  then  at 
once  decided  on.  After  making  several  ineffectual  ef- 
forts to  have  his  place  supplied,  he  consented,  at  the 
earnest  wish  of  the  Board  of  Trustees,  to  retain  at  least 
a  formal  connection  with  the  College  while  in  Europe, 
leaving  the  future,  then  so  uncertain,  open  to  the  indi- 
cations of  Providence.  To  supply  the  vacancy  in  the 
Faculty,  an  additional  officer  was  elected,  and  Professor 
Garland  was  appointed  chairman  of  the  Faculty  and 
president  pro  tempore 

"The  day  of  his  departure  came.     His  last  interview 


HIST  OR  Y  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE.     61 

with  the  Faculty  was  very  touching.  He  was  too  feeble 
to  sit  up,  but,  reclining  on  a  couch,  he  spent  some  half- 
hour  in  conversation  respecting  the  affairs  of  the  College. 
He  felt  satisfied,  from  the  lengthened  experiment  he  had 
made,  that  there  was  little  or  no  hope  of  his  being  able 
to  do  efficient  labor  in  a  Southern  climate,  even  though 
his  health  might  be  improved  somewhat  by  his  contem- 
plated voyage.  Although  the  Board  of  Trustees  had 
declined  to  accept  his  resignation,  and  had  given  him  as 
long  a  furlough  as  the  exigencies  of  his  health  might  re- 
quire, yet  he  was  persuaded  that  the  time  of  his  final 
departure  from  Randolph- Macon  had  come.  It  was  very 
doubtful  whether  he  should  ever  again  see  the  face  of 
any  of  his  colleagues.  His  parting  words  had  all  the 
tenderness  and  dignity  of  a  Christian  who  bowed  with 
uncomplaining  submission  to  the  will  of  God — of  a  phil- 
osopher who  looked  calmly  at  the  future,  whatever  its 
developments  might  be,  whether  bright  or  dark — of  a 
friend  who  was  about  to  carry  with  him  the  warm  at- 
tachments of  a  heart  alive  to  every  generous  sentiment 
and  affectionate  impulse.  At  the  close  of  the  interview 
his  brother  officers,  with  moistened  eyes,  knelt  around 
his  couch,  and  Professor  Wightman,  at  his  request,  of- 
fered up  a  fervent  prayer  to  the  throne  of  the  heavenly 
mercy,  that  God  would  graciously  preserve  in  his  holy 
keeping  the  life  of  their  brother  and  friend,  restore  his 
health,  and  bring  him.  back  to  his  native  land,  prepared 
for  greater  usefulness  than  ever  to  the  church  and  cause 
of  Christ. 

' '  At  the  close  of  this  affecting  interview  the  doctor 
was  supported  to  his  carriage,  and  left  the  College,  never 
to  see  it  again.  His  presidency  had  been  a  brief  but 
brilliant  period  in  its  fortunes.  He  had  manifested  the 
highest  adaptation  to  the  responsible  office  which  he 


62     HISTOR  Y  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE. 

held  there.  His  unrivaled  judgment,  his  shining  tal- 
ents, his  far-seeing  sagacity,  his  prudence  in  adminis- 
tration and  firmness  in  government,  his  masterly  grasp 
of  influence,  wielded  for  the  highest  good  of  the  young 
men  who  came  from  far  and  near,  attracted  by  the  prestige 
of  his  name,  his  genuine  love  of  learning,  and  enthusi- 
asm in  communicating  knowledge,  formed  a  combina- 
tion of  great  qualities  very  rarely  met  with  in  men  of 
even  the  highest  reputation.  No  student  or  graduate 
of  the  College  who  enjoyed  the  benefits  of  a  personal 
acquaintance  with  Dr.  Olin  will  think  the  foregoing 
estimate  of  his  worth  as  a  presiding  officer  strained  or 
overstated  in  the  least  particular. ' ' 

Professor  Hardy,  of  La  Grange  College,  Alabama,  who 
was  a  student  at  Randolph -Macon  College  during  Dr. 
Olin's  administration,  has  retained  the  following  .distinct 
remembrances  of  him : 

"  Dr.  Olin  left  the  College  of  Randolph- Macon  in  the 
spring  of  1837,  a  few  months  before  the  class  of  which  I 
was  a  member  took  their  first  degree.  We  waited  on 
him  in  a  body,  and  asked  him  to  put  his  signature  to  our 
diplomas,  for  we  cherished  for  him  a  filial  affection,  and 
felt  that  his  name  was  indispensable.  Many  youthful 
hearts  were  sad  the  day  he  left  the  College  for  his 
European  tour.  The  students  met  in  chapel,  adopted 
appropriate  resolutions,  and  appointed  two  of  their  num- 
ber to  attend  him  to  the  railroad,  a  distance  of  sixty 
miles.  He  was  worn  down  by  disease,  and  we  had  no 
expectation  of  seeing  his  face  again.  He  rode  in  his 
carriage  on  a  bed,  and  preferred  to  go  with  no  one  at- 
tending him  save  his  faithful,  devoted  wife.  We  bade 
him  farewell,  as  children  shake  the  hand  of  their  dying 
father,  and  we  saw  him  no  more." 

This  was  the  marked  event  in  the  history  of  the  Col- 
lege for  the  fifth  year,  1836-' 37. 


HISTOR  Y  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE.     63 

Professor  L.  C.  Garland  was  made  President  pro  tent- 
pore.  Rev.  Mr.  Tomlinson  having  declined  to  accept 
the  chair  of  English  Literature,  Rev.  William  M.  Wight- 
man  was  elected  to  it,  and  accepted  it.  Professor  David 
Duncan  was  elected  Professor  of  Languages  in  place  of 
Rev.  Geo.  F.  Pierce  who  had  declined  to  accept  it. 


REV.   W.   M.   WIGHTMAN.   D.   I). 


Professor  William  M.  Wightman  was  an  alumnus  of 
Charleston  College,  South  Carolina,  and  a  member  of 
the  South  Carolina  Conference.  He  took  the  chair  of 
English  Literature  and  Rhetoric  which  Professor  E.  D. 
Sims  was  expected  to  fill  after  his  return  from  Europe. 
He  was  a  man  of  decided  talent  and  culture,  and  was  in 


64      HIST  OR  Y  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE. 

the  prime  of  life,  and  well  fitted  for  the  work  assigned  him. 
He  remained  until  Professor  Sims  returned  from  Europe, 
and  then  returned  to  South  Carolina.  He  filled  other  very 
important  and  prominent  positions  in  after  years,  viz. : 
The  editor's  chair  of  the  South  Carolina  Christian  Advo- 
cate, the  Presidency  of  Wofford  College,  Spartanburg, 


PROFESSOR    DAVID  DUNCAN,  A.    M. 

S.  C.,  and  the  Southern  University,  Greensboro,  Ala. 
While  at  the  latter  he  was  elected,  in  1866,  Bishop  of 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  South,  in  which  office 
he  served  till  his  death,  February  15,  1882.  He  received 
the  degree  of  D.  D.  from  Randolph- Macon  College. 
Professor  David  Duncan  was  a  native  of  Ireland,  and 


HISTOR  Y  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE.      65 

a  graduate  of  Glasgow  University,  Scotland.  At  the 
time  of  his  election  to  the  chair  of  Ancient  Languages 
he  was  conducting  a  flourishing  classical  school  in  the 
city  of  Norfolk,  Va.  The  whole  of  an  extended  man- 
hood was  spent  in  teaching,  the  prime  of  it  from  1837 
to  1857.  To  his  high  scholarship  was  added  a  singularly 
genuine  character  and  gentlemanly  and  genial  deport- 
ment, which  made  him  acceptable  to  his  associates  and 
popular  with  his  classes.  He  was  brimming  full  always 
with  wit  and  humor.  He  was  the  father  of  Rev.  J.  A. 
Duncan,  D.  D.,  President  of  Randolph- Macon  College, 
1868-1877,  and  Bishop  W.  W.  Duncan  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church,  South.  He  died  at  Wofford  College, 
where  he  was  Professor  of  Ancient  Languages,  in  1881. 
The  year  i836-'37  was  marked  by  the  first  report  of 
the  raising  of  a  considerable  instalment  of  the  proposed 
Virginia  Conference  endowment  of  a  Professorship.  Rev. 
Jno.  Early  reported  eighty- seven  subscribers  of  two  hun- 
dred dollars  each,  making  $17,400.  It  was  also  a  pros- 
perous and  satisfactory  year  in  College  work.  The  report 
of  the  Faculty  made  to  the  Trustees  referred  with  em- 
phasis to  the  good  deportment  and  studiousness  which 
had  characterized  the  student  body  during  the  closing 
session.  Their  report  also  for  the  first  time  indicated 
the  distinctions  in  the  graduating  class,  which  were  as 
follows : 

j.  JAMES  W.  HARDY, Georgia. 

2.  FRANCIS  N.  MULLEN, North  Carolina. 

3.  JUNIUS  L.  CLEMONS, North  Carolina. 

4.  LEWIS  W.  CABELL, Virginia. 

5.  ROBERT  M.  INGRAM, Virginia. 

6.  WARREN  DuPRE, South  Carolina. 

ADAMS,  RICHARD  E.  G Virginia. 

BEARD,  CLOUGH  S., South  Carolina. 

BLAIN,  GEORGE  W., Virginia. 

5 


66      HISTOR  Y  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE. 

CROFT,  ISAAC  C., South  Carolina. 

GEE,  JESSE, Virginia. 

HORSELEY,  WILLIAM  A., Virginia. 

MONTGOMERY,  HENRY  T., Virginia. 

SAMFORD,  WILLIAM  F Georgia. 

STEWART,  THEOPHILUS, Georgia. 

WILLIAMSON,  JAMES  J., Virginia. 

In  all  sixteen. 


PROFESSOR  WARREN  DU   PRE,   A.   M. 

Tutor  at  Randolph-Macon  College  :  Professor  at  Wofford  College,  South  Carolina  ; 
President  Martha  Washington  Female  College,  \rirginia. 


HISTOX  Y  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE.     67 

The  first-honor  man  pronounced  the  Valedictory  Ad- 
dress ;  the  second-honor  man,  the  Latin  Salutatory ;  the 
third,  the  Philosophical. 

COLLEGE  YEAR  i837-'38. 

This  year,  under  the  presidency  of  Professor  Lan- 
don  C.  Garland,  acting  president,  the  college  made  good 
progress.  In  the  annual  report  of  the  Faculty  made  to 
the  Trustees  June,  1838,  they  say :  "The  past  year  has 
been  one  of  peculiar  interest  and  pleasure  on  account  of 
the  highly  respectable  conduct  and  praiseworthy  dili- 
gence of  the  students  generally,  the  number  of  whom 
has  amounted  to  one  hundred  and  ten  in  the  College, 
and  over  fifty  in  the  Preparatory  School. ' ' 

On  the  recommendation  of  the  Faculty  the  following 
degrees  were  conferred,  viz. : 

Bachelor  of  Arts. 

1.  JOHN  T.  BRAME, North  Carolina. 

2.  EDWARD  H.  MYERS, Florida. 

3.  JAMES  R.  THOMAS, Georgia. 

4.  EZEKIEL  A.  BLANCH, Virginia. 

5.  JOHN  W.  LEAK, North  Carolina. 

6.  FRANCIS  A.  CONNOR, South  Carolina. 

BAXTER  CLEGG North  Carolina. 

GEORGE  F.  EPPES, South  Carolina. 

JAMES  M.  FITTS, North  Carolina, 

CHRIS.  D.  HILL North  Carolina. 

THOS.  J.  KOGER, South  Carolina. 

HENRY  E.  LOCKETT, Virginia. 

JOHN  A.  ORGAIN, Virginia. 

THOS.  B.  RUSSELL, South  Carolina. 

JAMES  R.  WASHINGTON, North  Carolina. 

JAMES  W.  WIGHTMAN, South  Carolina. 

Master  of  Arts  {Honorary). 

REV.  GEORGE  F.  PIERCE, Georgia. 

PROF.  DAVID  DUNCAN, Virginia. 

GABRIEL  P.  DISOSWAY New  York. 

Doctor  of  Divinity. 
REV.  THOMAS  JACKSON England. 


68      HISTOR  Y  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE. 

Steps  were  taken  by  the  Board  to  endow  the  fourth 
professorship  in  the  College. 

Rev.  John  Early,  agent,  reported  that  further  efforts  to 
endow  a  professorship  by  the  Georgia  Conference  would 
be  suspended,  that  Conference  having  resolved  to  estab- 


REV.    JAMES    R.    THOMAS,    LL.  D., 
President  Emory  College,  Georgia. 

lish  a  College  in  its  bounds.  The  amount  reported  as 
raised  on  said  endowment  was  $16,000.  He  also  re- 
ported the  amount  of  endowment  raised  in  Virginia  as 
$20,000. 

At  this  meeting  we  have  reported  the  first  intimation 
of  financial  embarrassment  in  the  affairs  of  the  College. 


HtelOR  Y  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE.     69 

Notwithstanding  this  the  salaries  of  the  full  professors 
were  raised  to  $1200  per  year.  The  acting  president, 
Landon  C.  Garland,  was  appointed  to  prepare  an  address 
on  the  pecuniary  condition  of  the  College,  the  same  to  be 
published  in  the  papers. 

Professor  E.  D.  Sims  having  returned  from  Europe, 
Rev.  William  M.  Wightman,  Professor  of  English  Lite- 
rature, tendered  his  resignation,  which  was  received  with 
complimentary  resolutions  to  him  for  his  efficient  ser- 
vices. Prof.  Wightman  returned  to  his  native  State, 
South  Carolina,  and  to  the  itinerant  ministry.  The  Fac- 
ulty as  reorganized  for  the  session  of  i838-'39  was  as 
follows,  viz.  : 

LANDON  C.  GARLAND,  A.  M.,  Professor  of  Mathematics,  and  Act- 
ing President. 

EDWARD  D.  SIMS,  A.  M.,  Professor  of  English  Literature  and 
Oriental  Language. 

DAVID  DUNCAN,  A.  M.,  Professor  of  Ancient  Languages. 

JAMES  W.  HARDY,  A.  B.,  Professor  of  Experimental  Sciences. 

EZEKIEL  A.  BLANCH,  A.  B.,  Tutor. 

SOLOMON  LEA,  A.  M.,  Principal  of  Preparatory  School. 

This  college  year  was  marked  by  the  first  serious  rup- 
ture between  the  Faculty  and  the  students.  The  occa- 
sion was  a  requirement  made  on  the  Senior  Class  to 
attend  a  recitation  on  the  ' '  Evidences  of  Christianity ' ' 
on  Monday  morning  before  breakfast.  The  result  was 
the  leaving  of  a  number  of  students  involved  in  the  con- 
test. 

At  the  close  of  the  year,  June,  1839,  the  annual  report 
of  the  Faculty  made  to  the  Board  gave  the  following 
item:  "The  affairs  of  the  College  for  the  session  have 
proceeded  with  tolerable  prosperity  and  quietness."  The 
following  were  recommended  for  the  degree  of  A.  B., 
June,  1839,  and  the  same  received  it : 


70     HISTOR  Y  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE. 

AMOS  W.  JONES, North  Carolina. 

CHARLES  W.  BURNLEY Virginia. 

JOSIAH  F.  ASKEW, Georgia. 

THOMAS  H.  GARNETT, Virginia. 

JAMES  F.  SMITH, South  Carolina, 

WILLIAM  H.  BATTE Virginia. 


REV.   A.  W.  JONES,   D.   D., 

/''or  fifty  years  President  of  the  Memphis  Conf.  Fetnale  College. 

The  resignation  of  President  Stephen  Olin,  tendered  in 
1836,  was  accepted  at  the  meeting  of  the  Board,  all  hope 
of  his  returning  to  the  College  having  been  abandoned. 
Prof.  Landon  C.  Garland  was  then  elected  by  unanimous 
vote  President,  and  he  accepted  the  office.  Prof.  David 
Duncan  was  elected  rector  of  the  Preparatory  School,  and 


LAN  DON  CABELL  GARLAND,  LL.  D. 


HISTOR  Y  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE.      71 

Amos  W.  Jones,  A.  B.,  principal.     William  L.  Harris 
was  elected  a  tutor  of  the  lower  classes  in  languages. 

On  motion  of  Rev.  John  Early,  the  following  resolu- 
tion was  adopted:  "That,  as  soon  as  practicable,  the 
trustees  of  Randolph-Macon  College  will  establish  a 
Normal  School  as  a  department  in  the  College,  in  which 
a  good  and  liberal  education  can  be  obtained,  and  which, 
in  its  organization,  shall  be  especially  fitted  to  educate 
students  for  common-school  teachers,  and  that  the  Pro- 
fessor of  English  Literature  be  the  rector  of  said  school." 

This  action  of  the  Board,  showing  such,  remarkable 
foresight  and  wisdom,  ought  to  be  emphasized.  So  far 
as  the  State  of  Virginia  is  concerned,  it  is  believed  to 
have  been  the  first  move  in  the  establishment  of  a  nor- ' 
mal  department  for  fitting  teachers  for  their  special  work. 
Many  years  afterward  (1884)  the  State  established  such 
a  school.  The  first  established  in  the  United  States  was 
in  the  year  1839.  This  important  move  was  never  fully 
and  specifically  carried  into  operation,  for  the  same  rea- 
son which  forbade  other  projects  of  the  Board — that  is, 
want  of  means. 

Another  important  step  taken  at  this  meeting  was  the 
action  in  regard  to  the  issue  of  scholarships.  At  the 
previous  annual  meeting  a  resolution  was  adopted  pro- 
viding that  any  person  paying  $600  into  the  treasury  of 
Randolph-Macon  College  shall  be  entitled  to  send  one 
student  free  of  tuition  fees  so  long  as  he  shall  live  or 
have  a  son  to  educate ;  and  any  minister  who  shall  col- 
lect and  pay  into  the  treasury  a  like  sum  shall  be  enti- 
tled to  the  like  privilege.  At  the  meeting  in  1839  this 
action  was  rescinded,  and  the  following  was  enacted  : 

On  motion  of  John  Early, 

'''Resolved,  That  any  person  who  shall  pay  into  the 
hands  of  the  treasurer  five  hundred  dollars,  or  any  min- 


72      HISTOR  Y  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE. 

ister  who  shall  collect  and  pay  into  the  hands  of  the 
treasurer  five  hundred  dollars,  shall  be  entitled  to  a 
scholarship  in  Randolph- Macon  College  in  perpetuity, 
and  all  persons  who  have  agreed  to  take  scholarships  at 
$600  shall  be  entitled  to  the  benefit  of  this  resolution. 

' '  Resolved,  That  any  person  who  shall  secure  by  bond 
or  otherwise  five  hundred  dollars,  the  principal  of  which 
shall  be  paid  within  five  years,  and  who  shall  pay  the 
interest  semi-annually,  shall  be  entitled  to  a  scholarship 
in  perpetuity,  but  the  certificate  of  scholarship  shall  not 
be  issued  until  the  principal  is  paid." 

This  was  an  unfortunate  move,  because  it  never 
brought  into  the  treasury  the  amount  it  was  expected  to 
bring — not  exceeding  eight  thousand  dollars.  The  evi- 
dent intention  that  such  scholarship  should  be  considered 
as  an  "heir-loom"  in  the  family  was  in  the  years  after 
the  war,  never  before,  violated,  and  parties  bought  them 
on  speculation,  getting  money-rent  for  them,  when  such 
a  course  was  never  contemplated.  When  they  were  is- 
sued, fees  were  $33  per  session.  Since  the  war  fees  have 
been  $75. 

My  readers  will  pardon  me  for  here  giving  some  per- 
sonal recollections,  inasmuch  as  it  was  in  1839  I  matric- 
ulated as  a  student  of  the  College. 

Mounted  on  my  black  filly,  I,  with  several  from  my 
native  county,  Nottoway,  made  the  journey  of  forty 
miles  to  Boydton,  where  we  were  guests  of  Col.  George 
Rodgers,  who  then  kept  the  Boydton  Hotel.  He  was 
then,  and  for  years  afterwards,  a  great  friend  and  liberal 
benefactor  to  the  College. 

The  next  morning  I  saw  the  belfry  of  the  College  in  the 
distance  for  the  first  time.  The  same  day  I  took  up  my 
abode  in  "Texas,"  a  portion  of  the  western  building, 
so-called.  To  a  boy  not  quite  fourteen,  the  experiences 


HISTOR  Y  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE.      73 

of  matriculation,  examination  for  entrance,  and  for  the 
first  time  coming  into  contact  with  young  men  from  dis- 
tant States,  can  never  be  forgotten.  "Hazing"  was 
then  unknown,  though  it  was  not  uncommon  for  some  of 
the  "green  ones"  to  have  a  little  fun  poked  at  them. 

We  had  four  classes:  Freshman,  Sophomore,  Junior, 
and  Senior.  To  the  "Fresh,"  the  "Seniors"  looked 
very  dignified,  and  the  latter  usually  felt  their  dignity, 
but  generally  bore  it  gracefully.  The  Seniors  and  Ju- 
niors generally  did  most  of  the  debating  in  the  Society 
Halls,  and  generally  dealt  most  in  "Calico." 

The  student  body  at  this  time  was  composed  very 
largely  of  men  from  States  south  of  Virginia,  the  Senior 
class  of  that  year  having  been  wholly  from  South  Caro- 
lina and  Georgia. 

At  this  session  Professor  Landon  C.  Garland  was  in- 
augurated a  full  President,  after  having  acted  as  such 
since  Dr.  Olin  left  for  Europe.  We  looked  up  to  him 
with  marked  reverence,  though  he  was  not  quite  thirty 
years  old.  It  was  his  dignity  of  character  which  caused 
us  to  do  this.  Few  men  ever  possessed  more  than  he. 
No  man  ever  trifled  in  President  Garland's  lecture-room. 
The  rules  of  discipline  were  felt  rather  than  seen.  His 
familiar  designation  was  "Old  Landon." 

President  Sims  was  much  like  President  Garland  in 
his  official  character  and  conduct.  He  was  a  high  man 
in  person  and  every  way.  Thoroughly  imbued  with  the 
love  of  his  native  English,  he  threw  his  heart  and  mind 
into  his  teaching.  Unable  to  get  text-books  in  Anglo- 
Saxon,  he  wrote  the  elementary  exercises  on  the  black- 
board. Some  of  these  are  remembered  to  this  day.  We 
did  not  realize  nor  appreciate  the  fact  that  our  classes 
were  the  first  in  a  course  which  is  now  magnified  in  all 
the  colleges  and  universities  in  the  land. 


74     HISTOR  Y  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE. 

Professor  Duncan  was  the  genial,  humor-loving  Irish- 
man. His  shillalah  was  ever  ready  for  any  exposed 
head,  but  he  had  no  murderous  intent,  and  did  not  mind 
when  the  subject  hit  back,  but  rather  enjoyed  a  repartee. 
A  broad  smile  always  foretold  his  sally  of  wit,  and  some- 
times it  was  so  slow  coming  that  the  victim  would  have 
time  to  "cut."  Dear,  dear  "Old  Pad,"  as  we  called 
him,  it  was  hard  to  say  whether  he  enjoyed  most  his  fun 
with  the  boys  or  his  ancient  languages,  with  the  love  of 
which  he  seemed  to  be  fully  saturated.  A  kinder  heart 
never  beat  in  human  frame. 

"  Old  Jim  "  (Hardy)  presided  in  the  Laboratory  on  the 
third  story.  He  was  a  third-story  man  every  way. 
Though  a  young  man,  and  the  first  alumnus  of  the  Col- 
lege made  a  full  professor,  his  manner  was  austere,  and 
hence  he  had  but  little  popularity  with  the  students. 
Some  excuse  for  his  so  appearing  was  due  to  the  fact 
that  he  had  to  study  hard  to  keep  up  with  the  expecta- 
tions of  his  classes. 

''Old  Zeke"  (Blanch)  our  tutor  in  mathematics,  was 
a  fine  instructor  and  bright  every  way.  H*e,  too,  was 
fond  of  humor  when  out  of  his  lecture-room,  but  very 
strict  while  in  it. 

Oh!  for  a  Dickens  to  picture  Tutor  Harris.  Pardon 
me  for  taking  up  more  room  with  him  than  is  given  all 
the  rest.  But  such  a  character  is  not  often  found,  and 
deserves  the  space  he  takes. 

My  first  classical  instructor  was  one  of  the  tutors.  He 
was  the  first  Virginia  University  man  ever  elected  to  fill 
a  chair  at  the  old  College.  Deeply  imbued  with  a  love 
for  his  subjects,  he  looked  upon  the  ancient  languages 
as  having,  potatoe-like,  the  best  parts  at  the  root.  The 
' '  particle ' '  was  his  especial  delight.  So  much  absorbed 
was  he  in  discoursing  on  it,  that  he  was  not  particular 


HISTOR  Y  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE.     75 

whether  his  pupils  listened  or  not.  They  might  go  to 
sleep  or  do  anything,  so  they  did  not  break  the  thread  of 
his  lecture.  It  was  amazing  to  see  how  many  learned 
authorities  in  the  shape  of  books  he  would  daily  lug  to 
the  room.  Doubtless  this  digging  at  the  root  was  very 
deep  and  thorough — too  much  so  for  the  average  "  fresh." 
Some  of  the  most  scholarly  appreciated  the  exercise,  or 
pretended  to  do  so.  To  the  latter  the  tutor  mainly  di- 
rected his  attention. 

Not  only  did  the  tutor  pursue  this  absorbing  search  in- 
doors, but  it  seemed  to  monopolize  all  his  thoughts,  even 
while  going  to  his  meals  and  returning.  It  made  him 
oblivious  to  all  else  for  the  time  being.  He  would, 
while  thus  absorbed  in  thought,  kick  a  chip  before  him 
for  a  mile,  and  would  not  recognize  the  best  friend  he 
might  meet  in  the  way.  All  he  asked  then  was  the  full 
"right  of  way." 

His  abstraction  or  absent-mindedness  was  exhibited  in 
many  ways.  Some  mischief-lover  barred  up  his  door 
one  morning  and  thus  made  him  tardy  at  recitation  hour, 
which  gave  occasion  to  the  boys  to  "cut" — that  is,  leave 
and  miss  recitation.  He  went  to  the  President  and  said, 
"Sir!  is  there  any  way  to  have  a  young  man  up, 
when  you  don't  know  who  he  is  ?  "  The  President  was 
a  great  mathematician,  but  he  could  not  solve  that  pro- 
blem. 

"Sheep-ear"  collars  were  in  fashion  in  those  days, 
just  the  reverse  of  those  now  or  lately  fashionable — I 
mean  those  with  turned-down  points  and  rising  high  at 
the  back  of  the  neck,  making  one  look  like  he  had  on 
a  mustard-plaster.  The  "sheep-ear"  collars  had  points 
with  acutest  angles,  which  came  up  to  the  corners  of  a 
man's  mouth.  When  starched  and  stiffened  they  looked 
as  if  great  danger  would  be  incurre'd  by  a  sudden  turn 


76      HISTOR  Y  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE. 

of  the  head.  Now  just  picture  to  yourself  a  sober-look- 
ing man  coming  into  a  parlor  in  the  morning  with  these 
' '  sheep-ears ' '  pointing  to  the  back  of  the  neck  instead 
of  to  the  front,  and  you  will  realize  how  very  peculiar  the 
tutor  looked  one  morning  when  he  came  down.  This  I 
was  eye-witness  of,  and  if  I  laughed  I  hope  no  one  will 
accuse  me  of  want  of  due  respect.  It  could  not  be 
helped,  certainly  by  one  who  has  been  known  to  enjoy  a 
hearty  spell  at  times. 

The  tutor  was  by  no  means  a  pharisee  in  spirit,  for  he 
was  one  of  the  "  meek  of  the  earth. ' '  But  his  inveterate 
habit  made  him  liable  to  be  pronounced  as  pharisaic. 
When  officiating  at  public  prayers  in  the  chapel  he  would 
sometimes  forget  that  after  prayer  came  recitation  or  lec- 
ture and  then  breakfast,  and  his  prayer  would  seem  to  be 
interminable.  Knowing  his  absence  of  mind,  one  morn- 
ing while  thus  engaged  some  good-inteiitioned  or  irreve- 
rent fellow  prompted  him  by  a  hearty  amen!  This 
brought  the  prayer  to  a  speedy  conclusion,  but  the  tutor 
was  highly  displeased — so  much  so  that  he  sent  for  the 
most  mischievous  one  of  the  auditors,  whom  he  naturally 
charged  with  the  offence,  and  said  to  him,  "Mr.  Blaze, 
I  have  sent  for  you,  sir!  to  say  to  you  that  you  shan't 
say  amen  to  my  prayers." 

The  tutor  was  very  economical — some  would  say,  pen- 
urious. Not  so.  He  was  generous  and  warm-hearted — 
as  much  so  as  an  old  bachelor  could  be.  A  true  Chris- 
tian, he  felt  it  to  be  his  duty  to  save  every  dime  he  could, 
that  he  might  have  the  more  to  meet  the  demands  of 
charity.  This  conviction  caused  him  to  discard  pins  as 
extravagant.  In  his  room  would  be  seen  what  Adam 
and  Eve  used  when  their  first  garments  were  donned,  to 
furnish  which  conveniently  he  kept  a  thorn  bush  hung 
up  behind  his  door.  This  he  kept  up  until  he  was  con- 


HISTOR  Y  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE.      77 

vinced  that  the  damage  thus  caused  to  one's  collar  ex- 
ceeded the  cost  of  pins. 

Candles  being  expensive,  he  thought  the  twilight  suffi- 
cient to  enable  him  to  make  up  his  morning  toilet.  This 
economy,  combined  with  his  other  besetting  habit,  got 
him  into  a  most  ludicrous  scrape.  It  happened  thus  : 
In  writing  out  his  voluminous  notes  he  used  many  quill 
pens,  which  from  time  to  time  accumulated  on  his  table. 
He  took  these — quite  a  number — one  night,  just  before 
retiring,  and  washed  them  in  his  bowl,  leaving  the  water 
in  the  bowl  very  much  the  color  of  the  blue  ink  he  was 
wont  to  use.  The  next  morning  in  the  dimness  of  twi- 
light he  failed  to  observe  this  discolored  fluid  when  he 
went  to  perform  his  ablutions ;  when  he  finished  he  was 
blue — yes,  very  blue.  Not  taking  time  to  look  into  his 
glass,  he  went  to  the  chapel  and  took  his  place  on  the 
rostrum  ready  to  officiate  at  the  appointed  hour,  wholly 
unconscious  of  the  very  remarkable  visage  he  wore,  and 
thus  unprepared  for  the  scene  which  was  to  follow. 

As  the  boys  dropped  in  each  one  would  stop,  and  look, 
and  wonder,  and  then  break  out  into  most  uproarious 
laughter,  as  perfectly  uncontrollable  as  a  storm  in  its  fury. 
There  was  no  use  to  attempt  to  be  devout  that  morning. 
How  the  tutor  got  through  with  the  reading  and  the 
prayer  I  can't  say,  but  I  fear  he  was  not  in  a  very  devo- 
tional mood  himself.  How  could  he  be  when  every  one 
was  laughing,  while  he  could  not  see  what  was  making 
them  laugh.  He  was  utterly  disgusted  with  such  rude- 
ness and  irreverence. 

But  he  did  get  through.  When  some  one  informed 
him  of  his  cadaverous  appearance,  he  suddenly  recol- 
lected the  blue  pens  he  had  washed  in  his  bowl.  Then 
it  was  his  turn  to  laugh,  and  laugh  he  did  with  a 
vim. 


78     HISTORY  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE. 

But  lest  I  weary  you,  I  will  here  conclude  this  remin- 
iscence of  the  olden  times  by  saying  that  with  all  the 
oddities  of  this  old  tutor  I  still  cherish  the  highest  re- 
spect for  his  character  as  a  good  and  deeply  pious  man. 
"  Blessed  are  the  pure  in  heart,  for  they  shall  see  God." 
I  doubt  not  that  he  will  be  of  that  number  in  the  great 
day  when  the  jewels  are  counted. 


PROF.  DAVID  S.   DOGGETT,  A.   M. 

These  made  the  Faculty  of  1839-1842.  In  the  latter 
year  Rev.  David  S.  Doggett  succeeded  Professor  Sims 
in  the  English  course.  He  was  an  eloquent  preacher,  in 
the  prime  of  life,  a  diligent  student,  and  dignified  in  his 
deportment.  The  pulpit  was  his  place  of  power,  and  he 
did  not  remain  long  away  from  it.  He  was  afterwards 


HISTORY  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE.     79 

a  Bishop  in  the  church,  after  having  served  the  church 
as  editor  of  the  Methodist  Review  for  a  number  of  years. 

So  much  for  the  professors  and  tutors.  What  of  the 
students  under  them?  Taking  the  men  who  received 
degrees  during  the  five  years  1840-1844,  it  is  pleasant, 
though  it  may  seem  invidious,  to  mention  a  part  where  it 
is  not  possible  to  name  all. 

The  first  name  in  the  roll  of  his  class  (1840),  and  the 
first  in  honor,  David  Clopton,  of  Georgia,  made  his  mark 
at  College,  and  his  after  life  was  what  his  college  life 
predicted. 

He  represented  the  Montgomery  (Alabama)  District  in 
the  United  States  Congress  prior  to  the  war,  and  the 
same  district  in  the  Confederate  States  Congress.  After- 
wards he  served  for  many  years  as  Associate  Justice  of 
the  Supreme  Court  of  Alabama.  He  was  also  very 
prominent  in  the  church. 

James  F.  Dowdell,  of  Georgia,  was  a  member  of  the 
United  States  Congress  from  Alabama  prior  to  the  war, 
and  was  a  local  preacher  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church,  South. 

Tennent  Lomax,  of  South  Carolina,  also  moved  to 
Alabama.  He  was  editor,  soldier  in  the  Mexican  war, 
and  was  prominent  in  politics.  He  was  killed  while 
leading  his  regiment  into  battle  at  Seven  Pines,  Vir- 
ginia, May,  1862,  just  after  having  received  a  commis- 
sion as  brigadier-general. 

James  L.  Pierce  was  an  eloquent  speaker,  a  Doctor  of 
Divinity,  and  President  of  Lagrange  (Georgia)  Female 
College. 

In  this  connection  it  might  be  interesting  to  mention 
that  Clopton's  roommate  was  Robert  Lanier,  of  Macon, 
Ga.,  a  member  of  the  Sophomore  Class.  He  and  Bur- 
well  Harrison,  also  of  Georgia,  married  Virginia  ladies, 


So      HISTOR  Y  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE. 

whose  acquaintance  they  formed  while  they  were  at 
College.  Lanier's  son,  Sidney,  has  been  called  the 
' '  poet  laureate  of  the  South. ' ' 

Coming  to  the  next  class  (1841),  George  B.  Jones, 
first- honor  man,  was  a  fine  scholar,  but  turned  from 
teaching  to  business  life.  He  was  killed  at  Petersburg 
in  1864,  while  defending  his  city  in  Kautz's  attack 
on  it. 

Thomas  H.  Campbell  was  a  distinguished  lawyer, 
served  in  both  houses  of  the  General  Assembly  of  Vir- 
ginia, and  was  president  of  the  Southside  Railroad  Com- 
pany. 

Edward  Wadsworth  was  a  prominent  minister  in  Vir- 
ginia and  Alabama,  a  Doctor  of  Divinity,  and  President 
of  the  Southern  University,  Greensboro,  Ala. 

In  the  class  of  1842,  Thomas  C.  Johnson,  of  Virginia, 
first-honor  man,  became  a  prominent  lawyer  in  St.  Louis, 
Mo.,  and  a  member  of  the  Legislature  of  that  State. 
After  the  war  he  served  two  years  as  President  of  Ran- 
dolph-Macon  College  (i866-'67,  i867~'68). 

William  G.  Connor,  D.  D.,  of  South  Carolina,  was  for 
many  years  a  prominent  minister  of  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal Church,  South,  in  Texas. 

Ira  I.  Crenshaw,  of  Virginia,  was  tutor  in  Randolph- 
Macon  College  several  years,  and  professor  at  the  Female 
Institute,  Buckingham,  Va.,  and  a  minister  of  the  Vir- 
ginia Conference. 

Dr.  Samuel  D.  Saunders  was  professor  at  the  South- 
western University,  Georgetown,  Texas,  for  a  number 
of  years. 

Of  the  class  of  1843,  George  W.  Benagh,  of  Virginia, 
first- honor  man,  was  a  professor  at  the  University  of 
Alabama,  succeeding  Dr.  Landon  C.  Garland,  his  old 
preceptor.  He  died  young  by  accidental  drowning. 


HISTOR  Y  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE.     81 

Edward  S.  Brown,  of  Virginia,  an  eminent  lawyer  and 
member  of  the  Virginia  Legislature,  is  still  an  active, 
vigorous  man  (1897). 

William  H.  Lawton  was  a  faithful  itinerant  in  the 
South  Carolina  Conference  for  nearly  fifty  years. 

Richard  H.  Powell  was  a  prominent  man  in  church 
and  state  for  many  years  in  his  State  (Alabama). 

A  number  of  the  members  of  this  class  died  in  early 
manhood. 

Coming  down  to  my  own  class  (1844).  This  class  in 
the  Freshman  year  numbered  thirty-three.  Of  these 
only  nine  took  degrees.  Four  others  came  in  after  the 
opening  year,  making  total  graduates  thirteen. 

John  Lyon,  of  Petersburg,  was  the  first-honor  man  of 
this  class.  He  entered  the  class  in  the  Junior  year,  when 
he  was  in  his  sixteenth  year.  Before  his  entrance  there 
were  several  candidates  for  the  first  honor.  It  was  not 
long  before  their  hopes  began  to  fail.  He  was  preco- 
cious, but  his  precocity  was  not  short-lived,  as  it  so  fre- 
quently is.  Mathematics,  the  great  rock  on  which  so 
many  aspiring  men  were  wrecked,  was  apparently  a 
pastime  with  him.  President  Garland,  a  natural-born 
mathematician,  had  no  mercy  on  men  not  like  gifted  with 
himself.  His  course  was  beyond  the  power  of  nine  out 
of  ten.  John  Lyon  was  the  one  of  ten,  and  was  head 
and  shoulders  above  all  the  others  in  the  class  in  this 
course,  while  not  equal  to  others  in  other  courses,  but 
high  in  all.  His  brilliancy  made  him  in  after  life  a  suc- 
cessful lawyer.  He  died  in  Washington,  November, 
1897,  aged  seventy. 

The  second-honor  man  was  William  C.  Doub,  of  North 

Carolina.     He  was  an  untiring  student,  gifted  especially 

in  the  acquisition  of  language.     He  was  a  teacher  all  his 

life,  having  spent  the  most  of  it  as  professor  in  Trinity 

6 


82      HISTOR  Y  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE. 

College,  North  Carolina,  and  Greensboro  Female  Col- 
lege. He  was  very  prominent  in  the  Methodist  Church. 
He  died  in  the  high  noon  of  life. 

The  third-honor  man,  William  M.  Cabell,  of  Virginia, 
was  a  man  of  clear-cut  intellect,  and  he  had  the  power  of 
concentration  in  a  high  degree.  This  power  was  shown 
in  his  early  life,  and  afterwards  made  him  distinguished 
and  feared  at  the  bar  and  in  the  Virginia  Legislature. 
He  is  still  living  (1897). 

The  fourth-honor  man  was  Holland  Nimmons  Mc- 
Tyeire.  Brought  by  his  old  preceptor,  James  R.  Thomas, 
to  Randolph- Macon,  when  otherwise  he  might  have 
gone  to  a  state  school,  he  entered  the  Sophomore  Class 
in  1841.  College  life  was  no  pastime  for  him.  His  am- 
bition would  make  it  a  stepping-stone  to  high  position — 
as  at  first  desired  and  designed — in  the  State.  Like  Dr. 
Olin,  no  place  lower  than  the  highest  would  satisfy  his 
ambition.  To  attain  to  this,  all  the  power  of  an  iron 
will  moving  the  enginery  of  a  somewhat  slow  but  giant 
mind  was  bent  and  made  subject.  Had  not  a  change 
come  to  divert  him  from  his  original  intention,  he  would 
doubtless  have  become  as  notable  in  the  councils  and 
courts  of  the  State  as  he  became  in  the  church.  When 
he  first  came  to  College  he  appeared  indifferent  in  church 
matters,  though  it  was  known  he  was  a  member. 
Whether  this  was  the  result  of  a  lapsed  religious  life,  or 
was  the  result  of  a  struggle  to  still  the  promptings  of 
conscience,  is  not  known.  But  the  call  to  a  higher  life, 
heard,  doubtless,  before,  but  a  while  unheeded,  was  em- 
phasized in  one  of  those  sweeping  revivals  which  Dr. 
Olin  valued  more  than  laws  of  discipline,  and  which  he 
pronounced  as  indispensable  in  college  work.  Worldly 
ambition  ceased  to  be  the  mainspring  of  his  action,  and 
he  began  to  seek  to  "have  the  mind  which  was  in 


HISTOR  Y  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE.      83 

Christ."  But  it  was  no  easy  work  to  bend  such  a  will  in 
a  new  direction.  It  was  like  turning  the  mighty  steam- 
ship on  a  different  course.  The  passion  to  rule  men 
around  him,  the  gift  of  so  doing  (and  it  is  the  greatest 
gift  with  which  man  is  endowed),  was  constantly  assert- 
ing itself.  It  probably  was  "strong  in  death,"  but  it 
was  tempered  and  sanctified  to  other  than  selfish  ends  by 
that  good  Spirit  which  subdued  a  Luther,  a  St.  Paul,  and 
a  John  Knox.  What  Randolph-Macon  did  for  McTyeire 
in  strengthening  his  mental  powers  for  what  he  was  to 
become  as  editor  and  bishop  and  builder  of  a  great  uni- 
versity, in  sobering  and  elevating  his  ambition  and 
aspirations,  and  fitting  him  for  the  work  he  was  called  to 
do  in  and  for  the  church,  cannot  be  computed.  He  has 
made  his  mark  as  high  as  any  son  of  his  alma  mater, 
possibly  higher  than  any  other. 

Space  will  not  allow  me  to  dwell  upon  the  names  of 
Thomas  H.  Rogers,  of  Virginia,  for  a  while  a  tutor  in 
the  College,  afterwards  M.  D. ;  of  Richard  S.  Parham, 
of  Virginia,  a  clever  student  and  lawyer,  who  died 
in  the  prime  of  life,  in  his  adopted  State,  Tennessee  ;  of 
"Judge"  Fanning,  of  Georgia,  the  frequent  butt  of 
Prof.  Duncan's  wit,  who  was  said  (poor  fellow)  to  have 
chewed  his  brains  out  along  with  his  teeth  ;  of  B.  F.  Sim- 
mons, a  prominent  young  lawyer,  who  died  prematurely, 
and  of  Willie  M.  Person,  a  M.  D.,  who  also  died  young. 

John  Howard  has  been  since  early  youth  a  prominent 
lawyer  in  Richmond,  ranking  very  high  in  his  profes- 
sion. He  was  noted  when  at  College  for  his  love  for, 
and  proficiency  in,  English  literature  and  composition. 
He  is  still  living  (1897). 

Of  my  most  intimate  friend  in  the  class,  Archibald 
Clark,  I  quote  what  Bishop  McTyeire  wrote  of  him  : 
"  The  most  useful  local  preacher  in  Southern  Georgia,  is 
what  his  presiding  elder  said  of  him." 


84      HISTOR  Y  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE. 

Among  those  who  were  students  with  me  at  the  Col- 
lege, but  left  without  taking  degrees,  the  following 
were  the  most  notable:  William  T.  Howard,  of  Vir- 
ginia, who  became  a  distinguished  physician  and  profes- 
sor in  the  University  of  Maryland ;  Lucius  J.  Gartrell, 
of  Georgia,  who  became  one  of  the  foremost  lawyers  of 
his  State,  and  a  general  in  the  Confederate  army  ;  Chas. 
E.  Hooker,  of  South  Carolina,  Attorney- General  of  the 
State  of  Mississippi,  colonel  in  the  Confederate  army, 
and  for  many  years  a  member  of  Congress  ;  Colonel  Joel 
B.  Leftwich,  of  Virginia,  for  a  number  of  years  a  mem- 
ber of  the  General  Assembly  of  Virginia  ;  Smith  W. 
Moore,  of  North  Carolina,  a  Doctor  of  Divinity  in  the 
Memphis  Conference,  author  of  several  books,  and  poet. 
He  was  associated  with  Bishop  McTyeire  on  the  Board 
of  Trust  during  the  early  years  of  the  Vanderbilt  Uni- 
versity. James  N.  Ramsey,  of  Georgia,  colonel  in  the 
Confederate  army  ;  Robert  Ridgway,  of  Virginia,  the 
brilliant  editor  of  the  Richmond  Whig,  and  member  of 
Congress  from  Virginia ;  Walter  L.  Steele,  of  North 
Carolina,  a  member  of  Congress,  and  prominent  in  busi- 
ness and  state  matters  ;  W.  L.  Blanton,  a  minister  of 
the  Virginia  Conference,  eloquent  and  zealous,  who  died 
in  early  manhood ;  James  D.  Crawley,  a  most  estimable 
man,  and  a  local  minister  for  many  years  ;  W.  K.  Blake, 
of  North  Carolina,  a  prominent  merchant  in  Spartanburg, 
S.  C.,  and  trustee  of  Wofford  College;  John  Wesley 
Williams,  a  member  of  the  Virginia  Conference,  whose 
useful  life  was  early  cut  short  by  consumption . 

Nearly  all  of  my  college-mates  sleep  in  the  dust  of  the 
earth.  Many  of  them  were  "wise,  and  shall  shine  as 
the  brightness  of  the  firmament, ' '  and  some  ' '  turned 
many  to  righteousness,"  and  shall  "  shine  as  the  stars, 
forever  and  ever." 


GEN.  TENNENT  LOMAX,  CLASS  1840. 
Killed  at  Seven  Pines,  Va.,  /#». 


HISTOR  Y  OF  RAXDOLPH-MACOX  COLLEGE. 

We  go  back  now  and  take  up  the  record  regularly. 
At  the  close  of  the  session  of  i839~'4O  the  report  of  the 
Faculty  notes  the  year  as  successful,  and  makes  men- 
tion of  the  introduction  of  Anglo-Saxon  into  the  course 
as  the  basis  of  the  proper  stud}-  of  English.  The  Bible 
was  also  recommended  as  a  part  of  the  course  of  study. 
At  this  meeting  the  first  legacy  to  the  College,  made  by 
Rev.  Robert  C.  Jones,  of  $3,000,  was  reported. 


DAVID  CLOPTOX,  LL.  D. 

The  following  degrees  were  conferred  June,  1840  : 

A.  B. 

DAVID  CLOPTOX,  of  Georgia.         JAMES  L.  PIERCE,  of  Georgia. 
JAMES  F.  DOWDELL,  of  Georgia.     TEXNEXT  LOMAX,  of  S.  C. 
BIRWELL  K.  HARRISON,  of  Ga.      WOODSON  L.  LIGOX,  of  S.  C. 


86     HISTOR  Y  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE. 

A.  M. 

JOHN  C.  BLACKWELL,  of  Va.  JOHN  TILLET,  of  North  Carolina. 

R.  E.  G.  ADAMS,  of  Virginia.  JUNIUS  L.  CLEMONS,  of  N.  C. 

J.  W.  HARDY,  of  Georgia.  WARREN  Du  PRE,  of  S.  C. 
F.  N.  MULLEN,  of  N.  C. 

The  "Centennial  of  Methodism"  occurred  in  1839, 
and  was  celebrated  by  the  church.  Considerable  collec- 
tions were  taken  up  during  the  year  to  increase  the  en- 
dowment of  the  College.  This  year  a  name,  clarum  et 
nobile,  appeared  for  the  first  time  on  the  records  of  the 
Board,  D'Arcy  Paul,  of  Petersburg.  In  the  good  provi- 
dence of  God,  he  was  permitted  to  act  as  trustee  for 
many  years,  and  to  exert  a  great  influence  in  saving  the 
College  from  financial  wreck.  At  the  time  of  his  elec- 
tion he  was  a  leading  Methodist  in  his  city,  and  probably 
the  most  prominent  layman  in  the  State.  As  a  mer- 
chant, he  had  been  very  successful,  and  enjoyed  the  un- 
bounded confidence  of  the  business  world.  His  liberality 
towards  all  church  and  benevolent  enterprises  was  such 
as  probably  had  never  before  been  witnessed  in  Virginia. 
He  was  by  birth  a  native  of  Ireland,  but  his  whole  life, 
except  his  early  boyhood,  had  been  spent  in  Virginia, 
and  no  son  ' '  to  the  manner  born ' '  was  more  enthusias- 
tic in  pushing  forward  all  interests  that  enured  to  its 
welfare.  When  he  accepted  the  place  of  trustee  his 
heart  and  hand  and  credit  were  put  at  the  service  of  the 
College.  Taking  the  helm  of  the  ship  as  Financial  and 
Investing  Agent,  he  held  it  for  nearly  thirty  years,  and 
it  is  not  going  too  far  to  say  that  to  him,  more  than  to  any 
other  man,  the  College  owes  its  continuation  to  the  day 
when  age  and  feebleness  forced  him  to  turn  over  to  other 
hands  the  trust  he  had  so  long  and  faithfully  borne  on 
his  shoulders.  If  it  had  the  means,  it  should  erect  a 
monument  to  perpetuate  his  memory.  Happy  am  I 


D'ARCY  PAUL. 


HISTOR  Y  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE.      87 

here  to  pay  this  feeble  tribute  to  his  worth,  and  to  give 
the  portrait,  faint  representation,  though  it  be,  of  one 
who  is  worthy  of  all  the  honors  that  could  be  bestowed 
on  him.  His  form  was  so  erect  that  age  could  not  bend 
it.  His  character,  which  beamed  forth  in  a  face  of  more 
than  usual  manly  beauty,  was  still  more  true  to  the  line 
of  truth  and  righteousness. 


EDWARD  WADSWORTH,  D.  D., 
President  of  the  Southern  University,  Ala. 

The  report  of  the  Faculty  for  the  year  ending  June, 
i84o-'4i,  makes  favorable  mention  of  the  work  of  the 
session  and  of  the  conduct  and  scholarship  of  the  stu- 
dents. The  financial  condition  of  the  College  was  found 
to  be  such  as  to  call  for  an  address  asking  of  the  patron- 
izing Conferences  needed  relief. 


88     HISTOR  Y  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE. 

The  degrees  conferred  at  the  close  of  the  year  were : 

A.  B. 

GEORGE  B.  JONES,  Virginia.  THOS.  H.  CAMPBELL,  Virginia. 

THOMAS  B.  GORDON,  Georgia.  THOMAS  H.  JONES,  Virginia. 

ROBERT  C.  GILLIAM,  S.  C.  WM.  W.  HEREFORD,  Mississippi. 

WILLIAM  H.  DENTON,  S.  C.  SAMUEL  B.  SCOTT,  Virginia. 

WILLIAM  H.  BASS,  Virginia.  EDWARD  WADSWORTH,  N.  C. 

MARCELLUS  STANLEY,  Georgia.  OLIVER  P.  WILLIAMS,  S.  C. 
THOS.  S.  ARTHUR,  S.  Carolina. 

A    M. 

CHARLES  W.  BAIRD,  Virginia.  HENRY  E.  LOCKETT,  Virginia. 

THEOPHILUS  STEWART,  Georgia.  JAMES  R.  THOMAS,  Georgia. 

JOHN  T.  BRAME,  N.  Carolina.  EZEKIEL  A.  BLANCH,  Virginia. 

EDWARD  H.  MYERS,  Florida.  GEORGE  W.  BLAIN,  Virginia. 
JAMES  M.  FITTS,  N.  Carolina. 

YEAR  i84i-'42. 

At  a  called  meeting  of  the  Board  held  April,  1842, 
Prof.  E.  D.  Sims  tendered  his  resignation.  The  law  of 
Virginia  at  that  time  prohibited  a  person  from  marrying 
the  sister  of  his  deceased  wife.  The  Professor  was 
about  to  marry  Miss  Andrews,  the  sister  of  his  former 
wife,  daughter  of  Prof.  Andrews,  author  of  Latin  Gram- 
mar, and  therefore  was  compelled  to  leave  the  State  to 
marry  her. 

The  loss  of  a  Professor  so  capable  and  eminent  as 
Professor  Sims  was  much  regretted  by  the  trustees  and 
the  friends  of  the  College.  Under  the  circumstances,  it 
could  not  be  remedied,  for  there  was  no  one  to  take  his 
place  in  the  special  English  course.  He  had  been 
elected  to  take  the  chair  of  English  in  the  University  of 
Alabama,  which  he  accepted.'  At  this  institution  he 
formulated  a  course  of  instruction  in  English  based  on 
Anglo-Saxon,  similar  to  the  one  he  had  taught  at  Ran- 
dolph-Macon.  Here  he  proceeded  with  the  work  on  the 


HISTOR  Y  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE.     89 


Anglo-Saxon  Grammar  and  Dictionary.  This  work  he 
was  not  long  permitted  to  prosecute.  He  died  in  1845. 
Forty  years  after  his  death  the  manuscripts  of  his  Anglo- 
Saxon  works  came  to  Randolph- Macon  in  an  unexpected 
way.  Rev.  Mr.  Stephan,  of  Missouri,  found  them  at  a 
second-hand  bookstore  in  St.  Louis,  and  noticing  the 
name  of  Professor  Sims  on  the  title-page,  he  purchased 


SAMUEL  D.  SANDERS,  A.   M.,   M.   D., 
Professor  Southwestern    University,    Texas. 

the  lot,  embracing  other  papers,  and  sent  them  to  the 
writer.  Prof.  Sims  labored  faithfully,  but  ' '  others  have 
entered  into  his  labors." 

Rev.  Dr.  Capers,  of  South  Carolina,  was  elected  to 
fill  the  vacancy,  and  also  president  of  the  College,  Presi- 
dent Garland  having  tendered  his  resignation. 


9o      HISTOR  Y  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE. 

In  the  annual  report  in  June,  1842,  the  Faculty  say: 
"  Our  pecuniary  embarrassments  are  becoming  serious, 
and  unless  effectually  relieved,  it  will  be  impossible  to 
keep  up  the  operations  of  the  institution  much  longer. 
The  trustees  cannot  give  this  matter  too  much  patient 
reflection ;  and  if  it  be  practicable  to  sustain  the  institu- 
tion in  this  respect,  we  have  no  fears  for  its  success  in 
all  others." 

The  reorganization  of  the  Faculty  was  recommended, 
also  some  modifications  in  the  course  of  study  ;  also,  the 
establishment  of  a  "School  of  Law."  This  school  was 
established,  and  Edward  R.  Chambers,  an  eminent  law- 
yer of  Boydton,  elected  Professor. 

The  degrees  conferred  June,  1842,  were  : 

A.  B 

THOMAS  C.  JOHNSON,  Virginia.  IRA  I.  CRENSHAW,  Virginia. 

JOSEPH  SUTTON,  Virginia.  THOMAS  R.  EPES,  Virginia. 

ALEX.  B.  PIERCE,  N.  Carolina.  JOSEPH  T.  REESE,  Georgia. 

BENJAMIN  Z.  HERNDON,  S.  C.  LUCIEN  H.^OMAX,  S.  Carolina. 

WILLIAM  G.  CONNOR,  S.  C.  GEO.  E.  WYCHE,  N.  Carolina. 
SAMUEL  D.  SANDERS,  S.  C. 

A.  M. 

ISAAC  C.  CROFT,  S.  Carolina.  AMOS  W.  JONES,  N.  Carolina. 

WILLIAM  H.  BATTE,  Virginia.  JAMES  R.  WASHINGTON,  Ga. 

JOSIAH  F.  ASKEW,  Georgia.  Rev.  DAVID  S.  DOGGETT,   Vir- 

JAMES  W.  WIGHTMAN,  S.  C.  ginia  (honorary). 
CHARLES  F.  BURNLEY,  Virginia 

Rev.  David  S.  Doggett  was  elected  to  the  chair  vacated 
by  the  resignation  of  Pr6fessor  Sims. 

1842-1843. 

This  year  the  second  decade  of  the  College  commenced. 
The  year  was  marked  by  great  financial  pressure,  which 
was  partially  relieved  by  the  sale  of  some  of  the  funds  of 
the  College.  A  part  of  the  proceeds  of  the  sale  was 


HISTORY  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE.     91 

used  to  pay  off  a  debt  on  building  account  and  the  rest 
for  current  expenses.  At  the  low  rates  of  college  fees, 
the  current  receipts  failed  to  meet  salaries  and  other  ex- 
penses. 

In  the  annual  report  of  the  Faculty  mention  is  made  of 
a  decrease  in  patronage,  caused  by  the  financial  condition 
of  the  country  and  the  establishment  of  colleges  in  other 
Southern  Conferences  ;  so  that  it  was  again  necessary  to 
ask  the  Board  to  do  something  to  increase  the  income  of 
the  College. 

This  year  a  French  course  was  introduced  for  the  first 
time,  and  E.  A.  Blanch  was  elected  tutor  of  French. 

At  the  annual  meeting,  June,  1843,  a  committee  was 
appointed,  consisting  of  Messrs.  Chambers,  Rogers, 
Alexander,  Leigh,  and  Early,  to  recommend  a  plan  for 
the  relief  of  the  College  from  financial  embarrassment. 
This  committee  reported  as  follows  : 

1 .  That  it  is  absolutely  necessary  to  raise  a  permanent 
fund  of  $20., ooo  to  sustain  the  institution,  and  if  we  fail 
in  doing  so,  it  must  and  will  go  down. 

2.  That  the  Agent  be  instructed  to  endeavor  to  obtain 
one  hundred  subscribers  of  $500  in  money  or  in  bonds, 
the  interest  to  be  paid  annually  at  the  sessions  of  the 
Virginia  and  North  Carolina  Conferences,  and  the  prin- 
cipal within  a  period  not  to  exceed  ten  years,  no  sub- 
scription to  be  binding  until  $10,000  shall  have  been 
subscribed,    the   principal  to   be    kept  as  a  permanent 
fund. 

The  Faculty  of  the  College  showed  their  spirit  of  lib- 
erality and  .self-denial  by  the  following  communication  : 

' '  The  Faculty,  with  a  view  to  contribute  all  in  their 
power  toward  the  establishment  of  the  College,  propose 
to  give  to  the  Board  of  Trustees  the  sum  of  five  thousand 
dollars,  the  same  to  be  paid  in  five  years  by  a  relinquish- 


92     HISTOR  Y  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE. 

ment  annually  of  $1,000  on  their  salaries  upon  the  fol- 
lowing conditions,  viz.  : 

"  i .  That  the  balance  of  their  salaries  be  paid  promptly. 

"2.  That  the  donation  shall  cease  before  the  expira- 
tion of  the  five  years,  unless  the  exigencies  of  the  insti- 
tution shall  require  it. ' ' 

It  being  necessary  to  raise  funds  to  pay  the  professors, 
Messrs.  H.  G.  Leigh,  D'Arcy  Paul,  Dr.  Archibald  A. 


GEORGE  W.  BENAGH,  A.   M., 
Professor   University  of  Alabama. 

Campbell,  George  Rogers,  and  Edward  R.  Chambers 
offered  to  loan  the  College  $500  each,  and  Messrs.  H.  B. 
Cowles  and  Landon  C.  Garland  $250  each,  on  the  25th 
of  December  next ;  and  Rev.  W.  B.  Rowzie,  Agent  of 
the  College,  offered,  that  if  the  amount  of  his  collections 


JUDGE  EDWARD  R.  CHAMBERS, 

Pm/esser  of  Law  J&42- 43.      Trustee  of  tht  College.    Judge  Circuit  Court. 
Member  of  I  'irginia,  Convention  1851  and  l80l. 


HIST  OR  Y  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE.     93 

should  fall  under  $500,  to  make  up  the  deficiency  in  a 
loan. 

The  above  record  is  given  to  show  the  great  financial 
strait  of  the  College  and  to  bring  to  mind  the  liberality 
of  the  members  of  the  Board  and  the  Faculty.  But  for 
this  liberal  action  the  College  would  have  ceased  its 
work,  as  so  many  others  were  forced  to  do. 

Some  steps  were  taken  at  this  meeting  to  establish  a 
Medical  Department  in  the  College. 

The  following  degrees  were  conferred,  June,  1843: 

A.  B. 

GEORGE  W.  BENAGH,  Virginia.  THOMAS  W.  BLAKE,  N.  C. 

EDWARD  S.  BROWN,  Virginia.  HENRY  B.  ELDRIDGE,  Virginia. 

HAMPDEN  S.  SMITH,  N.  C.  WALLER  MASSIE,  Virginia. 

THOMAS  E.  MASSIE,  Virginia.  JOHN  F.  RIVES,  Mississippi. 

WILLIAM  H.  LAWTON,  S.  C.  NATHANIEL  R.  WADDILL,  Va. 

FELIX  H.  G.  TAYLOR,  Miss.  JOHN  C.  WALKER,  Virginia. 
RICHARD  H.  POWELL,  Alabama. 

A.  M. 

JAMES  F.  SMITH,  South  Carolina. 

D.  D. 

Rev.  ROBT.  NEWTON,  England.     LOVICK  PIERCE,  Georgia. 
WILLIAM  WINANS,  Mississippi.       WILLIAM  A.  SMITH,  Virginia. 

1343-1844. 

The  dark  cloud  resting  on  the  prospects  of  the  College 
in  June,  1843,  still  hung  over  it  the  succeeding  year, 
notwithstanding  the  efforts  made  to  relieve  the  embar- 
rassment. Patronage  continued  to  decrease.  The  ses- 
sion opened  with  sixty  matriculates  in  the  College  and 
thirty  in  the  Preparatory  School,  the  smallest  number  in 
the  history  of  the  College  up  to  this  year. 

The  President,  in  the  annual  report,  alludes  to  the  de- 
pression of  Faculty  and  patrons,  neither  of  whom  ' '  could 
feel  proper  interest  in  an  institution  which  might  close  its 


94     HISTOR  Y  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE. 

doors  at  any  time. ' '  This  feeling  of  despondency  seemed 
to  have  pervaded  also  the  members  of  the  Board,  for  a 
bare  quorum  were  in  attendance  at  the  opening  session. 
The  president,  in  his  report,  said :  ' '  We  shall  regard  it 
as  a-  calamity  if  you  leave  this  place  without  making 
some  definite  arrangement  by  which  our  future  may  be 
relieved  from  all  embarrassment." 


HOLLAND  N.   MCTYEIRE,  A.   M.,   D.   D., 
B:shop  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  South  ;  Regent  Vanderbilt  University. 

That  grand  layman,  D'Arcy  Paul,  in  this  dark  hour, 
came  to  the  relief  of  the  College  by  guaranteeing  £the 
salaries  of  the  professors  to  the  amount  of  $5,000  on  cer- 
tain conditions.  Thus,  in  the  good  providence  of  God, 
the  life  of  the  College  was  prolonged. 


COL.  WM.  TONVNES,  TRUSTEE. 
Elected  1844. 


HISTOR  Y  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE.     95 

The  following  received  degrees  June,  1 844  : 

A.  B. 

JOHN  LYON,  Virginia.  JOHN  HOWARD,  Virginia. 

WILLIAM  C.  DOUB,  N.  C.  RICHARD  IRBY,  Virginia. 

WILLIAM  M.  CABELL,  Virginia.  RICHARD  S.  PARHAM,  Virginia. 

HOLLAND  N.  McTvEiRE,  Ala.  WILLIE  M.  PERSON,  N.  C. 

ARCHIBALD  CLARK,  Virginia.  BENJAMIN  F.  SIMMONS,  N.  C. 

THOMAS  H.  RODGERS,  Virginia.  J.  L.  GILLESPIE,  Virginia. 
.JAMES  G.  FANNING,  Georgia. 

A.   M. 

THOMAS  B.  GORDON,  Georgia.  Rev.  THOS.  H.  JONES,  Virginia. 

GEORGE  B.  JONES,  Virginia.  WILLIAM  H.  BASS,  Virginia. 

Rev.  EDWARD  WADSWORTH,  Va.  HENRY  F.  JONES,  N.  C. 
FRANCIS  A.  CONNOR.  S.  C. 

Rev.  Henry  B.  Cowles  having  declined  to  accept  the 
office  of  Agent,  to  which  he  had  been  previously  elected, 
was  again  elected. 

Warren  DuPre  resigned  the  tutorship,  and  Holland 
N.  McTyeire  was  elected  to  fill  the  place. 

It  would  be  an  omission  if,  in  describing  and  relating 
other  matters,  the  description  of  an  old-time  Annual 
Commencement  should  be  left  out.  These  occasions 
were  notable  events  in  the  first  two  decades  of  the  Col- 
lege. In  those  days  preparations  were  begun  four  weeks 
before  the  Commencement  day  by  releasing  the  Seniors 
from  regular  daily  exercises  so  as  to  give  them  time  to 
prepare  their  orations,  which  each  one  had  to  write  and 
commit  to  memory  and  rehearse  before  the  Professor  of 
English,  who  was  authorized  to  make  corrections  in 
matter,  style,  and  also  in  manner  of  delivery.  The 
Commencement  generally  was  held  the  third  Wed- 
nesday and  Thursday  of  June.  The  Sunday  previous  a 
sermon  was  preached  by  some  eminent  minister  appro- 
priate to  the  occasion.  Selecting  one  occasion  that  the 
writer  witnessed  as  a  specimen,  that  of  1842,  the  follow- 


96      HISTOR  Y  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE. 

ing  description  is  faithful:  The  visitors,  in  the  main, 
began  to  fill  up  the  boarding-houses  around  the  College 
and  the  hotels  of  Boydton  on  Tuesday.  The  Board  of 
Trustees  assembled  on  Tuesday  at  an  early  hour,  hold- 
ing their  meeting,  strictly  private,  during  the  day. 
Friends  of  the  graduates  from  Virginia  and  the  Carolinas 
were  largely  in  attendance  on  Wednesday  in  time  for  the 
opening  of  the  exercises  in  the  chapel.  On  this  occa- 
sion the  far-famed  evangelist,  Rev.  John  Newland  Maf- 
fett,  had  been  selected  to  deliver  the  annual  oration 
before  the  literary  societies.  He  arrived  on  Tuesday  by 
private  carriage,  having  travelled  over  seventy  miles. 
The  Alumni  Society  orator  had  also  arrived. 

The  exercises  of  Wednesday  opened  at  n  A.  M.  The 
band  had  been  discoursing  musical  selections  tor  hours 
previous  on  the  campus,  and  continued  in  the  gallery  of 
the  chapel,  to  which  they  and  the  crowd  had  repaired. 
The  chaplain  invoked  the  blessing  of  God  on  the  Col- 
lege and  the  young  men.,  The  president  introduced  the 
alumni  orator,  who  delivered  his  address  to  the  Society 
and  the  audience.  The  applause  of  the  auditors  would 
have  been  prolonged  but  for  their  anxiety  to  hear  the 
silver-tongued  orator,  whose  fame  was  as  wide  as  the 
country.  He  was  in  the  prime  of  life.  His  dress  was 
faultless  ;  his  black  locks  were  unruffled,  as  when  he 
left  the  hair-dresser's  shop  an  hour  before,  for  it  was  said 
he  held  his  hat  in  his  hand  all  the  way  from  Boydton  as 
he  rode  in  the  carriage  to  the  chapel.  Be  that  as  it  may, 
every  lock  was  in  perfect  order.  He  was  a  native  of  the 
Emerald  Isle,  but  was  thoroughly  naturalized.  His  man- 
ner was  well-nigh  perfect,  possibly  a  little  too  dramatic; 
his  voice  musical,  his  enunciation  rolling  and  faultless. 

What  was  the  theme  memory  cannot  recall.  All  that 
is  remembered  is  his  action,  voice,  and  the  general  effect 


HISTOR  Y  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE.     97 

on  the  auditors.  The  house  was  packed ;  the  crowd 
outside  was  as  great  as  that  inside.  The  oration  over, 
all  breathed  naturally  again;  the  boys  applauded,  the 
ladies  waved  their  handkerchiefs  and  fans,  and  the  band 
struck  up  enlivening  notes,  and  all  said,  as  the  morning 
exercises  closed,  "We  have  heard  an  orator  to-day." 

In  the  afternoon  the  representatives  of  the  Washing- 
ton and  Franklin  Societies — George  Benagh  and  Felix 
Taylor  of  the  former,  and  Marcellus  Stanley  and  Rives 
Waddill,  of  the  latter — did  their  societies  great  honor  as 
their  representatives  by  delivering  in  the  chapel  eloquent 
orations. 

At  night  the  Societies  held  their  annual  meetings,  at 
which  the  presidents-elect,  distinguished  honorary  mem- 
bers, presided  and  made  addresses.  In  the  debates  fol- 
lowing the  honorary  members  were  expected  to  take 
part.  The  Society  medals  and  honors  were  delivered  to 
graduate  members.  These  meetings  were  held  in  the 
halls,  and  were  not  open  to  the  public. 

At  night  the  parlors  of  private  houses  and  the  hotels 
were  radiant  with  the  wealth  of  beauty  gathered  mainly 
from  the  Old  Dominion  and  the  old  North  State.  If 
there  were  ever  fairer  and  more  lovely  women  since  the 
days  of  Helen  this  deponent  never  saw  them. 

The  next  day  the  graduating  class  made  their  last 
bows  to  a  College  audience,  having,  according  to  cus- 
tom, appeared  three  times  before  in  the  last  year  of  their 
course.  It  would  be  hard  to  decide  which  did  best,  if 
the  verdict  had  to  be  given  by  the  fair  auditors  who 
heard  them. 

The  ' '  Latin  Salutatory ' '  came  first,  delivered  by  the 
second-honor  man.     This  was  followed  by  the  orations 
of  others,  without  regard  to  grade.     The  closing  "Vale- 
dictory" was  delivered  by  the  first-honor  man,  who  in 
7 


98      HISTOR  Y  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE. 

a  manner  represented  the  whole  class.  Then  each  grad- 
uate received  his  '  '  sheep-skin,  '  '  delivered  by  the  Presi- 
dent, who,  in  Latin,  said,  "Accepe  hoc  diploma"  as  he 
handed  the  diploma. 

The  graduating  class  was  complimented  by  a  "party" 
given  in  their  honor  by  the  students  at  the  Steward's 
Hall,  which  was  largely  attended.  This  closed  the 
Commencement  . 

So  great  was  the  interest  in  the  Annual  Commence- 
ments that  parties  came  for  long  distances,  even  as  far 
as  South  Carolina.  Some  of  them  came  in  coaches  drawn 
by  four  horses  with  out-riders. 


COLLEGE  YEAR 

The  tendency  in  patronage  this  year  was  still  down- 
ward. The  number  of  students  was  smaller  than  ever 
before. 

A  movement  was  made  to  carry  out  the  project  to  raise 
$20,000  for  endowment.  The  salaries  of  the  Faculty 
were  reduced,  so  that  the  President  only  got  $1,250;  the 
professors,  $1,000;  Tutor,  $600;  Principal  of  the  Pre- 
paratory School,  $600.  This  was  done  in  the  face  of  the 
fact  that  the  dues  to  the  Faculty  at  this  time  amounted 
to  $7,000.  This  unfortunate  condition  of  affairs  was 
brought  about  and  aggravated  by  several  causes.  The 
poorly  paid  officers  worked  without  hope  of  remuneration. 
Students  failed  to  attend  because  the  impression  was  be- 
coming prevalent  that  the  College  would  be  forced  to 
close  its  doors.  Besides,  the  farming  community  were 
receiving  low  prices  for  their  crops.  In  1845  the  severest 
drought  prevailed  in  Virginia  ever  known  since  1816. 

At  the  Commencement,  June,  1845,  a  case  of  small- 
pox was  reported  on  the  morning  of  the  first  day.  This 
threatened  the  total  suspension  of  the  exercises,  and 


HISTOR  y  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE.     99 


many  visitors  did  return  home.  The  exercises  were  held 
at  Boydton,  and  the  address  of  Rev.  Dr.  William  S. 
Plumer,  one  of  the  greatest  men  of  his  day,  served  to 
put  all  in  good  humor  and  restore  quiet.  The  next  day 
the  services  were  held  in  the  chapel. 


TURNER  M.  JONES,   A.   M.,   D.   D., 
President  Greensboro  Female  College ,  N.  C. 


Degrees  were  conferred  as  follows : 


CHARLES  B.  STUART,  Va. 
JOHN  G.  BOYD,  Va. 
THOMAS  T.  BOSWELL,  Va. 
JAMES  T.  WRIGHT,  Va. 

JOSEPH  T.  REESE,  Ga. 


A.  B. 

•  WILLIAM  F.  BLACKWEI.L,  Va. 
JOHN  W.  SHELTON,  N.  C. 
TURNER  M.  JONES,  N.  C. 

A.  M. 

GEORGE  E.  WYCHE,  N.  C. 


THOMAS  S.  ARTHUR,  S.  C. 


ioo   HISTOR  Y  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE. 

At  the  close  of  this  year  I.  I.  Crenshaw  and  H.  N. 
McTyeire  resigned  their  places  as  Tutors.  The  former 
went  to  the  Buckingham  Female  Institute,  and  the  latter 
took  work  ,as  an  itinerant  on  a  circuit  till  Conference. 

Williams  T.  Davis  was  elected  Principal  of  the  Pre- 
paratory School. 


O.   H.   P.   CORPREW,  A.   M.,   LL.  D., 
Professor  in  Randolph- M  aeon  College  and  Central  College,  Mo. 

COLLEGE  YEAR  1845-' 46. 

The  drought  referred  to  continued  till  late  in  the  sum- 
mer. Many  farmers  had  to  buy  corn  at  one  dollar  per 
bushel,  and  in  some  cases  had  to  go  as  far  as  thirty  miles 
to  get  meal. 


HISTOR  Y  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE.    101 

At  the  close  of  the  year  in  June,  at  the  meeting  of  the 
Board,  great  financial  embarrassment  was  reported. 
A  bond  to  be  secured  by  mortgage  on  the  real  estate  of 
the  College  for  $5,000  was  authorized  to  raise  funds  to 
meet  pressing  indebtedness. 

The  following  received  degrees  June,  1846  : 

A.  B. 

JOHN  DAVIS,  Va.  OLIN  M.  DANTZLER,  S.  C. 

OLIVER  H.  P.  CORPREW,  Va.  BENJAMIN  F.  LOCKETT,  Va. 

FRANK  X.  FOSTER,  S.  C.  THOMAS  J.  LOCKETT,  Va. 

EDWARD  T.  HARDY,  Va.  THOMAS  P.  JERMAN,  S.  C. 

SAMUEL  HARDY,  Va.  GEORGE  HOWARD,  Va. 
WM.  G.  de  GRAFFENREIDT,  Va. 

A.  M. 

JAMES  F.  DOWDELL,  Ga.  THOMAS  H.  CAMPBELL,  Va. 

WILLIAM  F.  SAMFORD,  Ala.  WILLIAM  G.  CONNER,  S.  C. 

JOHN  F.  RIVES,  Miss.  JOHN  C.  WALKER,  Va. 

D.  D. 

Rev.  W.  M.  WIGHTMAN,  S.  C.        EDMOND  W.  SEHON,  Ky. 

The  session  of  the  College,  i846-'47,  opened  very  in- 
auspiciously.  In  addition  to  (and  probably  in  large 
measure  growing  out  of)  the  financial  troubles  which 
had  been  thickening  for  years  past,  a  want  of  harmony 
and  co-operation  between  the  President  and  some  of  the 
members  of  the  Faculty  began  to  be  shown.  This  led 
to  disorder  and  insubordination  among  the  students.  To 
inquire  into  the  matter  at  issue  a  meeting  of  the  Trus- 
tees was  called  in  September,  1846,  at  which,  after  re- 
citing a  history  of  the  troubles,  President  Garland  ten- 
dered his  resignation,  and  requested  the  immediate 
acceptance  of  the  same.  This  was  followed  by  the  resig- 
nation of  their  positions  by  Professors  D.  S.  Doggett  and 
David  Duncan,  and  Tutor  Thomas  H.  Rogers. 


102    HISTOR  Y  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE. 

The  resignation  of  the  President  was  not  accepted  for 
prudential  reasons.  That  of  Professor  Doggett,  to  take 
effect  at  the  close  of  the  session,  was  accepted,  as  was 
that  of  Tutor  Rogers.  Professor  Duncan  was  induced 
to  withdraw  his. 

The  Board  then  adjourned  to  meet  in  the  succeeding 
November,  at  the  session  of  the  Virginia  Conference, 
which  was  to  meet  at  the  College. 

At  the  adjourned  meeting  held  November  13,  1846,  the 
Board  accepted  the  resignation  of  President  Garland. 
Rev.  Wm.  A.  Smith,  D.  D.,  of  the  Virginia  Conference, 
was  elected  to  fill  the  vacancy  caused  by  the  resignation 
of  President  Garland.  The  Faculty,  as  re-organized,  was 
as  follows,  viz : 

REV.  WM.  A.  SMITH  (President),  Prof.  Moral  and  Mental  Phil- 
osophy. 

REV.  CHARLES  F.  DEEMS.  A.  M.,  Prof.  Latin  and  Belles  Lettres. 

EZEKIEL  A.  BLANCH,  A.  M.,  Prof.  Pure  and  Mixed  Mathematics. 

DAVID  DUNCAN,  A.  M.,  Prof.  Greek  Language  and  Literature. 

JAMES  W.  HARDY,  Prof.  Experimental  Science,  Astronomy  and 
Optics. 

The  severance  of  President  Garland  from  the  College, 
after  a  service  of  fourteen  years  in  various  capacities,  was 
a  source  of  great  sorrow  to  his  old  pupils  and  friends. 
However  deficient  he  may  have  been  in  some  qualifica- 
tions for  the  presidency,  which  from  the  first  he  not  only 
did  not  seek,  but  frequently  declined,  he  preserved  all 
along  the  unqualified  respect  of  all  as  an  able  professor 
and  scholar.  So  devoted  was  he  to  the  prosecution  of 
his  favorite  study,  Astronomy,  that  he  generally  broke 
himself  down  every  year  by  attempting  to  perform  the 
arduous  work  of  the  president  and  also  of  full  professor. 
Added  to  this  he  was  for  years  Treasurer.  To  a  sensi- 
tive nature  like  his,  the  demands  of  creditors  made  on 


HISTOR  Y  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE.    103 

him  when  he  could  not  meet  them  was  a  burden  of  itself 
heavy  enough  for  any  one  to  bear.  If  the  College  had 
had  an  endowment  fund  large  enough  to  pay  the  ex- 
penses as  they  were  incurred,  and  had  allowed  him  to 
retain  a  professorship  at  a  fair  salary,  with  a  president 
taking  on  his  shoulders  the  duties  which  in  most  colleges 
devolved  on  the  president,  his  valuable  services  could 
probably  have  been  retained — certainly  if  the  dissension 
had  not  arisen  in  the  administration  of  the  College.  It 
is  proper  here  to  state  that  this  dissension  was  only  with 
Professor  Hardy,  and  was  not  participated  in  by  the 
other  members  of  the  Faculty,  and  did  not  lead  to  the 
resignation  of  several  of  them. 

President  Garland  accepted  the  Chair  of  Mathematics 
in  the  University  of  Alabama,  at  Tuscaloosa.  He  never 
returned  to  his  native  State  except  on  visits.  The  whole 
of  a  long  life  was  spent,  first,  at  the  University  to  which 
he  went,  then  at  the  University  of  Mississippi,  from 
which  he  was  called  to  take  the  Chancellorship  of  the 
Vanderbilt  University,  at  Nashville,  Tenn.,  which  he 
accepted  and  filled  for  many  years.  Here  in  connection 
with  his  old  pupil,  Bishop  McTyeire,  he  did  valuable 
work,  till  age  and  feebleness  forbade  active  work. 
Then  he  was  made  Chancellor  emeritus.  He  died  sud- 
denly, but  not  unprepared,  at  the  Vanderbilt  Univer- 
sity. 

The  closing  years  of  President  Garland's  administra- 
tion were  the  darkest  in  the  history  of  the  College. 
Many  of  its  friends  were  hopeless  of  its  ever  rallying 
again.  Others  gathered  new  hope,  and  their  faith 
"staggered  not"  in  this  dark  hour.  All  the  older 
Methodist  colleges  had  gone  down,  or  were  tottering  to 
their  fall.  So  much  the  greater  faith  was  needed  at 
Randolph-  Macon . 


104   HISTOR  Y  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE. 

It  was  a  fortunate  circumstance  that  this  re-organiza- 
tion took  place  at  the  session  of  the  Virginia  Conference, 
which  was  held  at  the  College,  and  presided  over  by 
Bishop  Capers. 


REV.  WM.   B.  ROWZIE. 


JRev.  W.  B.  Rowzie,  who  for  many  years  had  been 
Agent,  resigned  the  position.  A  better  friend  the  Col- 
lege never  had. 

At  the  request  of  the  Board,  Rev.  B.  R.  Duval  and 
Rev.  Nathaniel  Thomas  were  appointed  Agents  for  the 
College.  They  were  men  of  extraordinary  energy  and 
zeal,  and  they  at  once  entered  on  a  thorough  canvass  of 
the  Conference  in  raising  funds  for  the  College.  Presi- 
dent Smith  entered  on  his  duties  with  characteristic  zeal. 


HISTOR  Y  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE.    105 

He  was  fortunately  possessed  of  an  unconquerable  will 
and  a  buoyancy  of  disposition,  without  which  he  would 
have  quailed  under  the  discouragements  under  which  he 
labored. 

"  Wm.  A.  Smith  was  born  in  Fredericksburg,  Va.,  No- 
vember 29,  1802.  His  mother  was  a  consistent  member 
of  the  Methodist  Church,  and  in  death  prayed  that  her 
son  might  live  to  preach  the  glorious  gospel.  His  father 
was  a  man  of  honorable  character  and  position.  Both 
died  when  he  was  of  a  tender  age.  For  a  time  the 
orphan  boy  had  rough  usage;  but  he  was  afterwards 
adopted  and  raised  by  Mr.  Russell  Hill,  a  friend  of  his 
father,  and  a  worthy  merchant  of  Petersburg.  When 
seventeen  years  old,  he  was  converted,  and  joined  the 
M.  E.  Church.  He  had  received  a  good  English  educa- 
tion, and  had  commenced  the  study  of  the  classics ;  but 
feeling  that  he  was  called  of  God  to  the  ministry,  and 
not  being  able  to  attend  college  as  he  desired,  he  studied 
privately  one  year  at  the  home  of  his  uncle,  Mr.  Porter, 
in  Orange  county,  and  taught  school  two  or  three  years 
in  Madison.  In  1824  he  travelled  the  Gloucester  circuit 
under  the  Presiding  Elder;  in  February,  1825,  he  was 
admitted  on  trial  into  the  Virginia  Conference.  In  1833, 
while  Agent  for  Randolph- Macon  College,  then  in  its 
infancy,  he  met  with  a  fearful  accident:  the  carriage 
which  he  was  driving  upset  and  fell  on  him,  breaking 
his  right  thigh  and  dislocating  his  left  hip,  and  badly 
laming  him  for  life.  He  was  a  delegate  to  the  General 
Conference  of  the  M.  E.  Church  every  session  from  1832 
to  1844,  and  occupied  a  high  position  in  that  great  coun- 
cil as  an  adviser  and  debater.  In  the  memorable  appeal 
case  of  Harding,  and  in  the  yet  more  important  extra- 
judicial  trial  of  Bishop  Andrew,  which  led  to  the  division 
of  the  church,  he  won  a  reputation  wide  as  the  United 


io6   HISTOR  Y  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE. 

States,  and  inferior  to  that  of  no  minister  of  any  denomi- 
nation, for  the  highest  deliberative  and  forensic  eloquence. 
He  was  a  member  of  the  Louisville  Convention  which 
organized  the  M.  E.  Church,  South,  and  of  all  the 
General  Conferences  of  this  church  to  the  date  of  his 
death.  He  commanded  universal  respect  and  confidence 
among  his  brethren  by  the  sincerity  of  his  zeal,  the  wis- 
dom of  his  counsels,  and  the  power  of  his  reasoning. 
His  impress  will  long  remain  on  the  legislation  and  in- 
stitutions of  Southern  Methodism.  In  1846  he  was 
called  from  the  regular  pastorate,  by  the  urgency  of 
the  Trustees  of  Randolph- Macon  College,  sanctioned 
by  the  Virginia  Conference,  to  the  Presidency  of  this 
institution.  •  He  was  selected  for  that  place  because 
his  courage,  energy  and  strength  of  intellect  seemed 
indispensable  not  only  to  the  prosperity,  but  even 
to  the  saving  of  this  noble  institution.  Twenty  years 
of  his  life  was  consecrated  to  this  cause — years  of  self- 
sacrifice,  of  unremitting  toil,  of  courageous  battling 
with  difficulties  and  victory  over  them ;  of  hope  where 
others  desponded,  of  faith  where  others  doubted,  of 
resolution  where  others  wavered.  He  was  diligent 
in  his  study,  diligent  in  his  lecture-room,  diligent  in  his 
travel  through  Virginia  and  North  Carolina  to  collect 
money  and  to  arouse  interest  in  behalf  of  the  College. 
The  number  of  students  steadily  increased,  the  standard 
of  scholarship  was  elevated,  and  through  the  joint  efforts 
of  Dr.  Smith  and  the  agents  of  the  College  an  endow- 
ment fund  of  $100,000  was  raised.  Then  came  the  ter- 
rible war,  which  emptied  those  classic  halls  and  swept 
away  the  funds  which  had  been  gathered  with  so  -much 
toil.  Yet  not  in  vain  had  he  labored.  Scores  of  minis- 
ters, hundreds  of  pious  young  men,  educated  under  his 
care,  moulded  by  his  influence,  are  this  day  in  their 


HISTOR  Y  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE.    107 

several  spheres  carrying  on  the  same  grand  work  to 
which  he  was  devoted,  and  have  learned,  from  his  teach- 
ings and  example,  never  to  surrender,  never  to  despair 
of  Randolph- Macon. 

"  We  have  not  spoken  of  Dr.  Smith  as  a  preacher  and 
pastor.  He  soon  rose  to  eminence  in  the  ministry,  and 
stood  with  the  foremost  in  the  pulpit  and  pastorate  for 
faithfulness,  ability  and  success.  He  had  a  deep,  dis- 
tinct, happy,  constant  experience  of  the  saving  grace  of 
God  in  Christ  Jesus.  His  zeal  for  the  cause  of  religion 
was  pure,  steady,  consuming.  He  was  fully  consecrated 
to  the  work  of  the  ministry.  The  doctrines  and  polity 
of  our  church  had  no  stronger,  nobler  expounder  and 
champion  than  he.  His  sermons  were  "logic  on  fire"- 
grand  and  solid  discussions  of  the  leading  truths  of  the 
gospel,  animated  with  deep  emotion.  Thousands  were 
converted  under  his  ministry;  many  of  them  became 
preachers  of  the  word  in  our  own  and  other  denomina- 
tions ;  the  churches  he  served  were  ever  edified  and 
trained,  not  less  by  his  pastoral  fidelity  than  by  his 
luminous  discourses. 

"As  a  man,  he  was  of  marked  character.  Who  that 
ever  saw  him  could  forget  that  bold,  frank,  noble  face 
and  forehead,  which  revealed  at  a  glance  the  lofty  attri- 
butes of  his  intellect,  the  loftier  attributes  of  his  heart ! 
Cunning  and  deceit  he  knew  not;  to  fear  he  was  a 
stranger ;  his  convictions  he  was  ever  ready  to  avow  and 
maintain.  Yet,  with  all  his  courage  and  indomitable 
energy  of  will,  he  had  a  tender,  sympathetic  heart,  and 
much  of  a  child-like  spirit,  simple,  unselfish,  trustful, 
easy  to  be  entreated."  * 

Rev.  C.  F.  Deems  did  not  accept  the  chair  of  Latin, 
and  O.  H.  P.  Corprew  was  elected  professor  pro  tempore, 
and  filled  the  place. 

*  Copied  from  Memoir  in  Virginia  Conference  Minutes. 


IDS    HISTOR  Y  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Board  held  March  31,  1847,  an 
effort  was  made  to  establish  a  medical  department  of  the 
College,  but  it  never  resulted  in  any  permanent  success. 

At  the  meeting  of  the  Board  held  June,  1847,  Presi- 
dent Smith  reported  that  the  session  had  been  pleasant 


BENNETT   PURYEAR,  A.   M.,  LL.  D., 

Professor  Chemistry  Randolph -Macon  College :  Chairman  Faculty  and  Professor 
Chemistry,  Richmond  College. 

and  the  prospects  of  the  College  improving.  The  suc- 
cess of  the  Agents  in  their  work  gave  promise  of  better 
financial  conditions.  A  committee  was  appointed  to  re- 
organize the  Preparatory  School  system,  and  it  was  pro- 
posed to  establish  one  or  more  at  salient  points. 

Professor  J.  W.  Hardy  tendered  his  resignation,  which 


\VM.  A.  SMITH.  D.  D., 

President  of  Randolph-Macon  College 

President  Central  College,  Mitsouri. 


HISTORY  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE.    109 

was  accepted.  He  had  been  elected  President  of  La 
Grange  College,  Alabama,  where  he  died  after  a  short 
service. 

The  following  received  degrees : 

A.  B. 

BENNETT  PURYEAR,  Va.  JOHN  MOODY,  Va. 

R.  H.  BEALE,  Term. 

A.  M. 

W.  C.  DOUB,  N.  C.  ARCHIBALD  CLARK,  Va. 

JOHN  LYON,  Va.  THOMAS  H.  ROGERS,  Va. 

T.  C.  JOHNSON,  Mo.  JOHN  HOWARD,  Va. 

D.  D. 
REV.  D.  S.  DOGGETT,  Va.  REV.  EDWARD  WADSWoRTH.Ala. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Board  held  at  Charlottesville  No- 
vember 17,  during  the  session  of  the  Virginia  Conference, 
a  further  issue  of  life-scholarships  was  authorized. 

The  committee  on  Preparatory  Schools  reported  in 
favor  of  retaining  the  old  school  at  the  College  under 
certain  rules,  and  the  establishment  of  one  at  Ridgway, 
N.  C.,  under  a  contract  with  the  Trustees  of  the  Ridgway 
Academy,  with  William  C.  Doub,  A.  M.,  as  Principal; 
also  of  one  at  Garysburg,  N.  C.,  with  C.  B.  Stuart,  A.  M., 
as  Principal. 

At  the  close  of  the  year,  June,  1848,  the  President  in 
the  annual  report  reported  increased  patronage,  and  a 
session  marked  by  studiousness  and  good  order  among 
the  students.  The  number  in  the  College  and  the  Pre- 
paratory School  was  about  one  hundred  and  forty. 

The  graduates  receiving  degrees  June,  1848,  were — 

A.  B. 

JOHN  C.  GRANBERY,  Va.  TAZEWELL  HARGROVE,  N.  C. 

JOHN  H.  CLAIBORNE,  Va.  RICHARD  G.  MORRIS,  Va. 

JAMES  R.  BRANCH,  Va.  GEORGE  W.  FRIEND,  Va. 

JOHN  S.  MOORE,  Va.  CHARLES  E.  WILLIAMS,  Va. 

DALLAS  SMITH,  Ala.  JAMES  D.  BLACKWELL,  Va. 


no    HISTORY  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE. 


CHARLES  B.  STUART,  Va. 
TURNER  M.  JONES,  N.  C. 
WILLIE  M.  PERSON,  N.  C. 
J.  W.  SHELTON,  N.  C. 
THOMAS  B.  RUSSELL,  Ga. 


A.  M. 

JOHN  G.  BOYD,  Va. 

WILLIAMS  T.  DAVIS  (Hon'y),  Va. 

BENJAMIN  JENKINS  (Honorary), 

Missionary    M.    E.    Church, 

South,  in  China. 


JAMES  R.  BRANCH,  A.   M., 
Colonel  Artillery,  C.  S.  A. 

D'Arcy  Paul,  Investing  Agent  and  Chairman  of  the 
Finance  Committee,  reported  the  probable  income  for 
coming  year  at  about  $3,500,  $2,000  of  which  amount  to 
come  from  fees  and  the  balance  endowment  dividends. 

We  pause  again  in  this  narrative  to  give  a  reminiscence 
of  College  life  as  written  in  1882  by  a  distinguished  mem- 
ber of  the  class  last  named,  John  C.  Granbery,  who  de- 


HISTOR  Y  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE.    \  1 1 

li vered  the  valedictory  as  first-honor  man .  The  distinction 
then  achieved  was  but  a  presage  of  his  rank  in  the  several 
positions  he  has  been  called  to  fill — Pastor,  Chaplain  to 
the  University  of  Virginia,  Chaplain  in  the  Confederate 
army  (in  which  service  he  was  severely  wounded  and 


JOHN  C.  GRANBERY,   A.   M.,   D.   D. 

taken  prisoner),  Professor  in  the  Vanderbilt  University, 
Bishop  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  South  (elected 
1882),  and  author  of  several  works.  At  this  writing  he 
lives  at  Ashland,  and  is  the  President  of  the  Board  of 
Trustees. 

"As  the  earliest  of  the  American  Methodist  Colleges 
now  extant,  Randolph-Macon  may  be  called  venerable, 


ii2   HISTORY  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE. 

if  not  ancient.  But  I  use  the  prefix  old  in  order  to  dis- 
tinguish the  College  as  it  was  at  Boydton  from  the  Col- 
lege as  it  is  at  Ashland.  The  features  of  contrast  are 
many  and  important.  In  the  old  days  slavery  was,  as 
we  thought,  a  fixed  and  lasting  institution ;  civil  strife 
had  not  swept  away  lives  and  fortunes,  and  the  South 
was  proud,  independent,  fiery  and  enthusiastic,  chivalrous 
withal,  generous,  genial ;  now  we  are  just  beginning  to 
adjust  ourselves  to  the  new  social  and  political  condi- 
tions which  have  been  imposed  by  a  disastrous  war. 
Then  there  was  a  single  degree,  Bachelor  of  Arts,  for 
which  the  students  strove,  and  the  course  of  four  years 
was  prescribed,  with  its  regular  gradations  of  Freshmen, 
Sophomores,  Juniors,  and  Seniors;  now  the  studies  are 
eclectic,  and  the  matriculates  may  select  any  one  of 
several  degrees,  or  study  without  reference  to  graduation. 
Then  the  lumbering  stage  brought  up  the  tri-weekly,  or 
perhaps  daily,  mail  and  passengers,  and  the  word  of  the 
driver  rang  forth  cheerily,  but  no  shrill  whistle  of  steam- 
engine  or  thunder  of  lightning  trains  disturbed  the  silence 
of  the  classic  groves,  and  the  attractions  and  distractions 
of  the  crowded,  hurrying,  clamorous  city  were  out  of 
reach  and  out  of  thought;  now  the  steam-car  and  the 
steam-press  are  familiar  objects,  the  capital  is  less  than 
an  hour's  distance,  and  the  stage-coach  is  a  tradition. 

"  A  change  has  taken  place  in  the  manner  and  measure 
of  collegiate  discipline.  This  is  due  not  to  the  change 
of  locality,  but  to  the  spirit  of  the  age.  It  has  come  to 
be  a  maxim  that  the  best  government  is  that  which 
governs  least.  We  seek  the  minimum  of  restriction  on 
liberty  that  is  compatible  with  the  ends  of  government, 
viz.,  order,  morality  and  diligence.  Formerly  the  dor- 
mitory system  prevailed ;  students  were  required  to  be 
in  their  rooms  during  certain  hours  of  the  day  and  night ; 


HISTOR  Y  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE.    113 

professors  and  tutors  visited  the  buildings,  seeking  to 
surprise  the  inmates,  in  order  to  ascertain  whether  the 
rule  was  observed  ;  there  were  many  minute  regulations 
which  have  since  been  abandoned.  This  continued  ex- 
ercise of  authority  and  plan  of  watching  provoked  in- 
subordination and  evasion ;  the  wits  of  the  boys  were  set 
to  work  in  order  to  deceive  the  teachers,  and  to  break 
the  rules  without  detection,  or,  at  least,  with  impunity. 
The  risk  gave  to  mischief  and  lawlessness  a  relish  they 
would  not  otherwise  have  possessed.  Unwholesome  sup- 
pers were  stealthily  brought  to  the  rooms  by  negroes  at 
late  hours  of  the  night ;  calathumps  aroused  the  neigh- 
borhood with  most  hideous  music;  blackboards  were 
greased ;  the  bell-rope  was  cut,  and  old  John  had  to  blow 
his  horn  at  daybreak  in  every  row  of  the  buildings,  as  a 
call  to  prayers  and  recitations.  This  provoked  him 
greatly,  and  he  used  to  say,  !If  you  won't  be  rung  up 
as  gentlemen,  I  must  blow  you  up  as  hogs.'  How 
heartily  I  have  heard  Dr.  Smith  laugh  as  he  repeated 
the  old  negro's  complaint  at  such  times,  '  We  have  the 
worstest  young  men,  and  the  mostest  on  'em,  I  ever 
seed  \ '  Practical  jokes,  sometimes  of  a  very  disagree- 
able sort,  were  played  on  professors  in  their  nocturnal 
rounds  of  inspecting  the  premises.  Calves  were  hauled 
up  into  lecture -rooms,  and  other  silly  tricks  were  perpe- 
trated. I  am  glad  that  these  follies  have  passed  away, 
that  faculty  and  students  treat  each  other  as  gentlemen 
and  friends,  and  that  the  public  sentiment  of  the  College 
would  not  tolerate  any  rudeness,  though  disguised  under 
the  name  of  fun.  It  is  well  to  appeal  to  the  conscience, 
gentlemanly  propriety  and  honor,  and  generous  and 
kindl}r  sentiments  of  young  men,  rather  than  resort  to 
espionage  and  multiplied  restraints. 

"I  appreciate  the  arguments  in  favor  of  locating  insti- 
s 


ii4    HISTORY  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE. 

tutions  of  learning  on  the  great  lines  of  travel,  and  in  o 
near  large  towns.  It  should  be  easy  to  get  to  them,  and 
get  away  from  them.  The  frequent  mail  and  the  time- 
destroying  telegraph  are  now  indispensable  where  stu- 
dents are  a  small  minority  of  the  population,  and  where 
there  is  a  vigilant  and  effective  police  many  disorders 
are  prevented,  and  faculties  and  boards  of  trust  are  saved 
much  trouble.  Low  vice  is  cheap,  and  will  go  to  the 
most  secluded  spot  in  search  of  victims ;  but  the  city 
presents  many  refined  pleasures  which  may  serve  to 
draw  off  ingenuous  youth  from  haunts  of  sin  and  projects 
of  mischief.  But  there  are  advantages  on  the  side  of  the 
more  quiet  and  retired  situation.  It  favors  concentra- 
tion of  interest  on  books,  lectures,  and  light  collegiate 
exercises.  The  whole  life  at  the  country  college  be- 
comes student  life.  There  is  no  division  of  mind  and 
heart.  There  is  nothing  to  tempt  the  earnest  youth  from 
his  proper  work.  The  esprit  d^l  corps  Qi  Q\&  Randolph  - 
Macon  was  very  strong.  There  were  hospitable  and 
cultivated  homes  in  the  neighborhood,  and  most  charm- 
ing maidens ;  those  who  visited  them  found  entangling 
alliances  for  life,  if  the  fair  sex  consented.  But  the 
number  of  young  ladies  sufficiently  near  to  be  easily- 
visited  was  small,  and  many  of  the  students  were  not,  if 
I  must  use  the  modern  slang  which  was  unknown  in  my 
day,  calicoists.  The  two  literary  societies  were  centres 
of  enthusiasm.  A  new  Randolph- Macon  student  can 
hardly  understand  the  intensity  of  devotion  "  Washs  " 
and  "  Franks  "  had  for  their  societies  in  those  times.  All 
students  were  members  of  the  one  or  of  the  other,  and 
were  ready  to  brag  for  it,  quarrel  for  it,  and,  if  need  be, 
fight  for  it.  They  did  not  all  attend  regularly  the  meet- 
ings, or  take  part  in  discussion  and  other  literary  exer- 
cises ;  their  lack  of  presence  or  performance  was  amply 


HISTORY  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE.    115 

atoned  for  by  the  payment  of  their  fines,  for  we  were 
always  eager  to  replenish  the  treasury.  But  a  number 
studied  carefully  the  questions  of  debate,  reading  largely, 
and  thus  forming  a  fondness  for  books  and  habit  of  re- 
flection ;  they  prepared  their  speeches,  and  often  waxed 
very  warm.  Indeed,  bitterness  and  strife  would  some- 
times arise,  but  they  soon  passed  away.  A  frequent  and 
effective  debater  of  rather  waspish  and  contemptuous 
temper  alluded  one  day  to  the  arguments  of  his  opponents 
as  flimsy  cobwebs,  as  he  quoted  one  after  another,  and 
answered  it,  'I  brush  that  cobweb  away,'  said  he.  A 
modest,  merry -hearted  man  on  the  other  side — he  is  now 
one  of  Lee's  one-armed  heroes — responded :  '  The  gen- 
tleman called  my  arguments  cobwebs,  and  it  may  be  that 
they  are ;  but  to-day  is  not  the  first  time  that  I  have  seen 
a  fly  caught  in  a  spider's  web,  and  vainly  struggling  to 
get  loose.'  Colonel  R.,  an  intelligent  gentleman  of  the 
community,  said  to  me  more  than  once,  when  he  had 
been  listening  to  a  spirited  debate,  '  It  is  not  inferior  to 
the  best  debates  I  have  heard  in  the  Legislature  of  Vir- 
ginia.' Some  of  the  most  skilled  debaters  in  church  and 
state  would  give  a  large  share  of  the  credit  for  their 
power  in  deliberative  assemblies  to  the  inspiration  and 
training  of  those  old  Randolph- Macon  halls.  Many 
foolish  things  were  spoken  there,  I  must  admit.  '  I 
don't  know  I  did  the  thing  with  which  I  am  charged,' 
said  an  excited  Frank;  'but  if  I  did,  I  oughtn't  to  be 
fined,  for  I  did  it  with  malice  aforethought.'  'With 
malice  aforethought!'  responded  the  censor,  who  was 
our  honored  and  beloved  Duncan ;  '  who  ever  heard  be- 
fore of  that  being  an  excuse ? '  'I  said  it,  and  I  repeat 
it,  that  I  did  it  with  malice  aforethought;  and  if  the 
gentleman  doesn't  understand,  I  will  explain  that  it  is  a 
law  phrase,  and  means  I  didn't  go  to  do  it ! ' 


116    HISTOR  Y  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE 

"There  were  many  traditions  in  my  day  of  giants  who 
had  been  at  old  Randolph- Macon.  They  told  how  Dr. 
Olin,  the  first  President,  a  man  of  great  head  and  heart, 
would  send  for  an  idle  or  offending  student,  place  his 
feet  on  the  chair  where  the  delinquent  sat  so  as  to  hold 
him  a  close  prisoner,  and  talk  to  him  faithfully,  yet  ten- 
derly, until  with  burning  cheeks  and  floods  of  tears  the 
youth  promised  never  again  to  offend.  It  was  a  memor- 
able event  when  the  great  man  preached ;  solid  thought 
in  vast  masses  was  driven  to  the  mark  with  resistless 
power.  There  was  a  story  of  an  eloquent  and  mighty  ser- 
mon from  Dr.  Lovick  Pierce,  of  Georgia,  from  a  text  which 
astonished  every  listener :  '  Let  him  that  stole  steal  no 
more ;  but  rather  let  him  labor,  working  with  his  hands 
the  thing  which  is  good,  that  he  may  have  to  give  to  him 
that  needeth.'  There  were  glowing  reports  of  the  won- 
derful pathos  and  power  of  Russell,  of  Georgia ;  how  he 
melted  the  cold,  stone  hearts  of  the  Faculty,  who  were 
bent  on  sending  him  home,  but  they  had  all  their  re- 
solves converted  into  admiration  and  sympathy  for  the 
youth  who  pleaded  eloquently  his  own  cause ;  how  often 
he  electrified  his  society.  It  was  my  good  fortune  to 
see  and  hear  him  in  the  pulpit  and  on  the  platform,  when 
he  visited  the  College  as  Commencement  orator." 

During  the  session  of  1847-48,  a  man  of  more  than 
ordinary  distinction  and  talent  became  connected  as  Pro- 
fessor with  the  College,  Rev.  Charles  Force  Deems.  He 
was  a  native  of  New  Jersey,  and  a  graduate  of  Dickinson 
College.  In  very  early  manhood  he  came  to  North  Car- 
olina to  represent  the  American  Bible  Society  in  that 
State.  He  was  there  only  a  short  time  before  he  was 
elected  to  a  chair  at  the  University  of  North  Carolina  at 
Chapel  Hill.  When  Dr.  Smith  was  elected  President  in 
November,  1846,  he  was  elected  Professor  of  Latin  and 


Y  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE.    117 

Belles  Lettres.  He  did  not  accept  the  chair  at  that  time. 
In  December,  1847,  he  did  accept  another,  and  the  Jan- 
uary following  entered  upon  his  duties  as  Professor  of 
Chemistry.  He  remained  that  year  and  then  returned  to 
North  Carolina,  and  entered  on  the  regular  work  of  an 
itinerant  minister.  It  is  not  known  why  he  so  soon 
severed  his  connection  with  the  College,  for  which  he 
always  to  his  latest  day  expressed  an  attachment,  evi- 
denced by  more  than  one  or  two  acts  of  interest  and 
generosity.  It  is  probable  that  there  was  little  kindly 
feeling  from  some  cause  not  known,  or  congeniality  be- 
tween him  and  the  President  of  the  College.  This 
doubtless  was  the  root  of  the  bitter  feud  between  him 
and  Dr.  Smith  in  after  time,  culminating  in  the  aliena- 
tion of  many  friends  from  each  other  and  the  North 
Carolina  Conference  from  the  College. 

The  portraits  of  the  two  now  hang  near  together  on  the 
wall  of  the  Trustees'  room  in  the  library,  and  it  is  hoped 
that  all  "bitterness  and  wrath"  having  been  laid  aside 
they  together  share  the  blessedness  of  heaven . 

t 
COLLEGE  YEAR  1848-' 49. 

The  report  of  the  President  and  Faculty  gives  the  fol- 
lowing items  for  the  year  -i848-'49 : 

Students  in  College  proper,  61 ;  in  Preparatory  Schools, 
viz.:  at  the  College,  51;  Ridgway,  N.  C.,  20;  Garys- 
burg,  40;  Lowell,  N.  C.,  21 ;  Richlands,  N.  C.,  20;  in  all, 
213.  "  The  schools  in  North  Carolina  from  the  last  quar- 
terly returns  are  in  a  prosperous  condition,  and  promise 
in  reasonable  time  to  operate  as  valuable  auxiliaries." 

Professor  Deems  resigned  the  chair  about  December, 
1848.  The  vacancy  was  filled,  or  arranged  to  be  filled, 
by  Charles  B.  Stuart,  of  the  class  of  1845,  with  the 
privilege  extended  to  him  to  spend  about  a  year  at 


1 18    HISTOR  J '  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE. 


Yale  College,  where  Agricultural  and  Analytical  Chem- 
istry were  made  specialties.  This  arrangement  was  car- 
ried out. 

At  the  meeting  of  the  Board,  June,  1849,  a  depart- 
ment of  Agricultural  Chemistry  was  provided  for,  to  be 
in  charge  of  Professor  Stuart. 


RICHARD  W.  LEIGH, 

Major  C.  S.  A.  :  killed  at  Murfrcesboro,  Tenn. 

The  following  degrees  were  conferred : 

A.  B. 

JAMES  A.  DUNCAN,  Va. 
WILLIAM  G.  FOOTE,  Miss. 
JAMES  W.  JACKSON,  Va. 
RICHARD  W.  LEIGH,  Va. 


LEWIS  MILLER,  N.  C. 

R.  S.  F.  PEETE,  Va. 

B.  CRAVEN  (Honorary),  N.  C. 


LUCIEN  H.  LOMAX,  S.  C. 
EDWARD  T.  HARDY,  Va. 


A.  M. 


O.  H.  P.  CORPREW,  Va. 
FRANCIS  X.  FOSTER,  S.  C. 


HISTORY  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE.    119 

COLLEGE  YEAR  1849-' 50. 

The  attendance  this  year  at  the  Home  Schools  was 
134  (College,  62;  Preparatory,  72).  Improvement  re- 
ported in  general  morals  and  habits  of  students. 

Great  financial  embarrassment  reported,  and  urgent 
appeals  for  active  measures  to  secure  needed  relief. 


EDWIN   E.   PARHAM,  A.    M., 
President  of  Warrentioi,  Petersburg,  and  Hampton  Female  Colleges. 

Early  in  the  session  of  i849~'5o,  Professor  E.  A.  Blanch 
resigned  the  Chair  of  Mathematics  on  account  of  con- 
tinued bad  health.  Professor  John  C.  Wills,  a  distin- 
guished graduate  of  the  Virginia  Military  Institute,  was 
elected  to  fill  the  vacancy,  and  entered  on  his  duties. 
He  was  a  local  minister  in  the  Methodist  Church,  and  a 


120    HISTOR  Y  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE. 

man  of  fine  character  and  an  accomplished  teacher.  The 
College  was  fortunate  in  securing  such  a  man. 

The  Faculty  now  consisted  of  the  following :  Dr.  Smith, 
President;  Professors  Duncan,  Stuart,  Wills,  Corprew 
(Tutor),  and  Williams  T.  Davis  at  the  Preparatory  School 
near  the  College. 

In  June,  1850,  they  reported  the  Preparatory  School 
as  having  done  well,  and  the  reception  from  it  of  twenty 
students  for  the  next  session,  and  four  from  the  Ridgway 
Preparatory  School.  The  school  at  Garysburg,  N.  C., 
had  been  discontinued.  The  schools  at  Lowell,  N.  C., 
and  Richlands,  N.  C.,  in  successful  operation  and  accom- 
plishing much  good. 

From  the  above  it  will  be  seen  that  the  establishment 
of  academies  as  feeders  to  the  College  was  a  fact  accom- 
plished before  the  late  effort  in  1889.  They  were  all  in 
North  Carolina,  and  the  subsequent  alienation  carried 
them  away  from  the  College  with  whatever  patronage 
they  were  bringing  to  it. 

Degrees  were  conferred  as  follows,  June,  1850: 

A.  B. 

EDWIN  A.  THOMPSON,  N.  C.  WILLIAM  A.  BRAME,  N.  C. 

EDWIN  E.  PARHAM,  Va.  ROBERT  H.  WINFIELD,  Va. 

EDWARD  A.  ADAMS,  Va.  BENJAMIN  C.  DREW,  Va. 

JOHN  F.  DANCE,  Va.  THOMAS  F.  FITZGERALD,  Va. 

A.  M. 
REV.  N.  F.  REID  (Hon'y),  N.  C.     BENNETT  PURYEAR,  Va. 

COLLEGE  YEAR  :85o-'5i. 

Number  of  students  reported  this  year  :  In  College, 
91  ;  in  Preparatory  School,  62 — total,  153. 

The  schools  in  North  Carolina,  except  Ridgeway, 
prosperous. 

The  year  was  not  satisfactory  in  the  deportment  of 
students  generally,  nor  in  finances. 


PROF.  WILLIAM  T.  DAVIS, 

Principal  Preparatory  School. 


HISTOR  Y  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE.    121 


In  June,  1851,  the  following  degrees  were  conferred  : 
A.  B. 


WILLIAM  H.  CHRISTIAN,  Va. 
HUGH  D.  BRACEV,  Va. 
WILLIAM  M.  CRENSHAW,  Va. 
HENRY  F.  DRAKE,  N.  C. 
ARMSTREAT  E.  FOWLKES,  Va. 
JOHN  H.  GUY,  Va. 
HEZEKIAH  G.  LEIGH,  Jr.,  Va. 


JOHN  S.  LONG,  N.  C. 
JAMES  O'HANLON,  N.  C. 
JACOB  M.  PALMER,  Va. 
REUBEN  PALMER,  Va. 
WILLIAM  McK.  ROBBINS,  N.  C. 
RICHARD  H.  WILLIAMS,  Va. 
HENRY  W.  WINGFIELD,  Va. 


WILLIAM    MCK.    ROBBINS, 
Member  of  Congress  from  North  Carolina. 


A.  M. 


RICHARD  H.  POWELL,  Ala. 
DAVID  CLOPTON,  Ala. 
THOMAS  J.  KOGER,  S.  C. 
JAMES  F.  DOWDELL,  Ala. 
TENNENT  LOMAX,  Ala. 
TAMES  L.  PIERCE,  Ga. 


EDWARD  WADSWORTH,  Ala. 

ADDISON  LEA,  Miss. 

Rev.  B.  CRAVEN  (Honorary), 
N.  C.  President  Trinity  Col- 
lege). 


122    HISTOR  Y  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE. 

The  Finance  Committee  reported  to  the  Board  that  the 
sum  of  $57,000  had  been  raised  in  subscriptions,  bonds, 
etc. ,  towards  the  endowment  of  the  College. 

COLLEGE  YEAR  i85i-'52. 

A  number  of  changes  took  place  this  year.  Williams 
T.  Davis,  A.  M.,  who  had  for  many  years  successfully 
conducted  the  Preparatory  School,  retired  to  go  to  Peters- 
burg, where  he  spent  the  balance  of  a  useful  life  in  the 
education  of  young  ladies.  He  was  temporarily  suc- 
ceeded by  W.  G.  Foote,  A.  B.,  and  later  by  James  S. 
Kennedy,  A.  B.,  of  Emory  and  Henry  College. 

O.  H.  P.  Corprew,  A.  M.,  tutor,  was  succeeded  by 
Rev.  J.  A.  Dean. 

The  annual  report  mentions  better  financial  condi- 
tion; decrease  in  patronage,  due  in  part  to  changes  of 
teachers;  the  introduction  of  the  "Demerit  system," 
which  is  noted  as  having  worked  satisfactorily ;  also 
the  establishment  of  the  degree  of  ' '  Bachelor  of  English 
Literature  and  Science,"  allowing  a  degree  without 
taking  classical  studies. 

The  Preparatory  School  at  Ridgway,  N.  C.,  was  dis- 
continued. The  other  schoqjs  were  reported  as  doing  well , 
but  no  statistics  as  to  numbers  in  attendance  were  given . 

The  first  volume  of  the  Randolph- Mac  on  Magazine, 
containing  ten  numbers  and  three  hundred  pages,  was 
published  in  1851.  The  Editors'  Table  states  that  "the 
primary  object  of  our  publication  is  the  enlargement  of 
our  Society  libraries." 

The  following  is  another  extract  from  the  Editors' 
Table:  "The  time  is  at  hand  for  us  to  throw  off' our 
dependence  upon  the  North,  and  establish  an  independent 
Southern  literature." 

The  old  Southern  Literary  Messenger  was  then  pub- 


HISTOR  Y  OF  RANDOLPH  MACON  COLLEGE.    123 

lished,  and  several  Reviews,  more  or  less  literary.  None 
of  permanent  standing  are  published  now.  Southern  in- 
dependence in  government  and  literature  seem  to  have 
both  surrendered  at  Appomattox.  Some  of  these  young 
men  laid  down  their  lives  for  one,  some  have  been  too 
busy  fighting  "the  wolf  at  the  door"  to  do  much  for  the 
latter.  While  we  lament  their  defeat,  we  admire  their 
pluck. 

The  following  is  the  title-page  of  Volume  I.: 

THE  RANDOLPH-MACON  MAGAZINE. 
PUBLISHED  BY  THE  STUDENTS  OF  THE  R.-M.  COLLEGE. 


"  Adeo  in  teneris  consuescere,  multum  est." 


EDITORS  : 

From  F.  L.  Society.  From  W.  L.  Society.. 

ROBERT  M.  MALLORY.  CHARLES  H.  HALL. 

WILLIAM  Y.  PEYTON.  JOHN  S.  JACKSON. 

JOHN  WILLIAMS.  THADDEUS  L.  H.  YOUNG. 

AGENTS  : 

JAMES  SANGSTER.  LEROY  M.  WILSON. 

THOMAS  C.  THACKSTON.  EDWARD  M.  PETERSON. 


PRINTED  BY  CJLAS.  H.  WYNNE, 
/jo  Main  Street,  Richmond,  Va. 


The  following  degrees  were  conferred  June,  1852 

A.  B 

ROWLAND  DOGGETT,  Va.  JOHN  F.  OGBURX,  Va. 

ROBERT  A.  JACKSON,  Va.  HORACE  PALMER,  Jr.,  Va. 

SAMUEL  LANDER,  N.  C.  RUFUS  R.  PEGUES,  S.  C. 

ROBERT  M.  MALLORY,  Va.  HENRY  H.  WILLIAMS,  Va. 

BENJAMIN  W.  OGBURN,  Va.  J°HN  WILLIAMS,  N.  C. 

A.  M. 

JAMES  W.  JACKSON,  Va.  R.  S.  F.  PEETE,  X.  C. 

JAMES  A.  DUNCAN,  Va.  WILLIAM  G.  FOOTE,  Miss. 


124    HIST  OR  Y  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE. 

COLLEGE  SESSION  i852-'53. 

At  the  annual  meeting,  June,  1853,  the  report  of  the 
President  and  Faculty  was  duly  made,  but,  from  some 
cause,  it  was  not  recorded. 


SAMUEL  LANDKR,   I).   I)., 
President  Williainston  Female  College,  South  Carolina. 

The  following  degrees  were  conferred  : 


A.  B. 


CHARLES  H.  HALL,  N.  C. 
JOHN  S.  JACKSON,  Va. 
EMBRY  MERRITT,  Va. 
HENRY  D.  MILAM.  N.  C. 


JAMES  D.  PROCTOR,  Va. 
JAMES  E.  SEBRELL,  Va. 
RICHARD  W.  THURMAN, 
'  JAMES  SANGSTER,  Va. 


HISTORY  OF  RANDOLPH-MACOX  COLLEGE.    125 


E.  W.  ADAMS,  Va. 
JOHN  H.  CLAI BORNE,  Va. 
RICHARD  W.  LEIGH,  Va. 
EDWIN  E.  PARHAM,  Va. 
GEORGE  HOWARD,  Va. 


A.  M. 

LEWIS  MILLER,  N.  C. 
ROBERT  H.  WINFIELD,  Va. 
Rev.   JOHN    E.    EDWARDS,   Va. 
(Honorary). 


D.  D. 

Rev.  HEZEKIAH  G.  LEIGH,  North  Carolina  Conference. 
Rev.  CHARLES  F.  DEEMS,  North  Carolina  Conference. 


REV.   CHAS.   H.   HALL, 
Of  the  I  'irginia   Conference. 


COLLEGE  YEAR 

There  were  in  attendance  this  year   1 1 1   students  in 
College  and  43  in  the  Preparatory  School.     Great  grati- 


126    HISTORY  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE. 

fication  was  expressed  on  account  of  the  good  order  of 
the  session.  The  financial  condition,  however,  was  still 
very  embarrassing.  The  scholarships  sold  had  added 
something  to  the  endowment  fund,  but  the  number  of 
students  paying  tuition  fees  was  reduced,  and  thus  the 
current  receipts  were  not  increased.  This  embarrassed 
the  officers  of  the  College,  because,  while  they  peferred  to 
remain,  higher  salaries  elsewhere  invited  them  away. 
The  President  stated  that  he  visited  the  Virginia  Legis- 
lature and  made  strenuous  efforts  to  induce  the  body  to 
pass  an  act  which  would  give  all  incorporated  Colleges 
$20,000  in  State  bonds  for  every  $30,000  invested  by 
them  in  State  bonds.  Though  the  project  seemed  to 
meet  with  greal  favor,  nevertheless  it  failed,  as  all  efforts 
to  get  the  State  to  aid  denominational  colleges  have 
done. 

Dr.  Smith  adds :  ' '  But  if  the  hope  of  succeeding  with 
this  scheme  be  not  sufficient  to  justify  you  in  making 
better  provision  for  your  officers,  and  another  should  not 
present  itself  to  your  minds  affording  better  grounds  of 
hope  for  success,  it  is  respectfully  submitted  whether  it 
be  not  better  to  close  your  doors  until  such  of  the  officers 
as  you  shall  deem  proper  to  employ  shall  succeed  in  rais- 
ing from  the  public  an  endowment  fund  sufficient  to  meet 
the  wants  of  the  institution." 

The  venerable  Professor  David  Duncan  resigned  the 
Chair  of  Ancient  Languages,  September,  1853,  to  take 
effect  June,  1854.  So  in  June,  after  a  continuous  faith- 
ful service  of  twenty-one  years,  he  bade  farewell  to 
Randolph- Macon,  and  went  to  Woffbrd,  the  scene  of  his 
labors  to  the  end  of  a  long  life. 

Professor  O.  H.  P.  Corprew,  A.  M.,  was  transferred 
from  the  Chair  of  Natural  Philosophy  to  fill  the  vacancy 
occasioned  by  Professor  Duncan's  resignation.  Profes- 


HISTOR  J '  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE.    127 

sor  Corprew  had  been  elected  to  the  Professorship  of 
Natural  Philosophy  in  the  previous  December.  H.  G. 
Leigh,  Jr.,  resigned  as  Tutor  of  Languages,  and  was 
succeeded  by  T.  H.  L.  Young,  A.  B.  Wm.  H.  Bass 
resigned  the  place  of  Principal  of  the  Preparatory  School, 
and  was  succeeded  by  John  W.  Stuart. 


THOMAS  C.   ELDER,   A.    M., 
Of  the  Staiiiitoii,  I  'a  ,  AVi>-. 

John  S.  Moore,  A.  M.,  was  elected  to  the  Chair  of 
Natural  Philosophy,  vacated  by  the  transfer  of  Professor 
Corprew. 

At  the  annual  meeting  in  June,  1854,  the  following 
received  degrees : 


128     HISTOR  V  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE. 

A.  B. 

JESSE  P.  BAGBY,  Va.  ADOLPHUS  W.  MANGUM,  Va. 

JOHN  G.  S.  BOYD,  Va.  A.  C.  MASSENBURG,  N.  C. 

RICHARD  BOYD,  Va.  SAMUEL  MOORE,  Va. 

WILLIAM  H.  CHEEK,  N.  C.  THOMAS  C.  THACKSTON,  Va. 

THOMAS  C.  ELDER,  Va.  L.  O.  RIVES,  Term. 

GEORGE  W.  HAMLIN,  Va.  LEROY  M.  WILSON,  Va. 

GARLAND  B.  HANES,  Va.  THADDEUS  L.  H.  YOUNG,  Va. 
GEORGE  W.  MAGRUDER,  N.  C. 

A.   M. 

WILLIAM  M.  CRENSHAW,  Va.  HEZEKIAH  G.  LEIGH,  JR.,  Va. 

BENJAMIN  F.  SIMMONS,  N.  C.         EDWARD  S.  BROWN,  Va. 
WILLIAM  McK.  ROBBINS,  N.  C.      ARMSTREAT  E.  FOWLKES,  Va. 

B.,  Eng.  Lit.  and  Science. 

ALEX.  HOGG,  Va.  J.  KIRKPATRICK. 

W.  H.  SHAY. 

D.  D. 

REV.  T.  B.  SARGENT,  Bait.  Conf.     REV.  ALFRED  T.  MANN,Ga.Conf. 

At  a  called  meeting  held  July  26,  1854,  which  was 
well  attended,  a  further  effort  was  made  to  secure  aid 
from  the  Legislature  of  Virginia. 

At  this  session  of  the  Board  the  following  important 
action  was  taken : 

Rev.  Robert  O.  Burton  offered  the  following  resolu- 
tions : 

-  i .  That  in  view  of  still  further  elevating  the  institu- 
tion and  securing  its  permanency  we  will  endeavor  to 
increase  the  endowment  to  $100,000. 

2.  That  whenever  the  amount  of  $100,000  shall  have 
been  secured,  or  the  interest  on  the  endowment  fund 
shall  amount  to  $6,000,  this  Board  will  grant  to  the  min- 
isters of  the  Virginia  and  North  Carolina  Conferences 
the  right  to  educate  their  sons  free  of  tuition  fees  for 
thirty  years. 


HISTOR  Y  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE.     129 

3.  That  one  or  more  agents  be  appointed  to  raise  the 
money,  and  that  we  earnestly  ask  the  co-operation  of  all 
the  ministers  of  the  Virginia  and  North  Carolina  Con- 
ferences. 

4.  That  subscriptions  of  $500  ma}'  be  paid  by  the  sub- 


REV.    L.    M.    LEE,    D.   D., 
Editor  "Richmond  Christian  Advocate." 

scribers  either  during  their  natural  life  or  twelve  months 
after  death,  with  interest  from  date,  to  be  paid  annually. 

5.  That  Rev.  H.  B.  Cowles  be  appointed  agent,  and 
that  Dr.  William  A.  Smith  be  associated  with  him. 

These  resolutions  were  adopted,  and  the  agents  ap- 
pointed were  requested  to  make  arrangements  for  the 
prosecution  of  the  work  as  soon  as  practicable.  It  could 
9 


130    HISTOR  Y  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE. 

not  be  done  at  once,  as  the  Agent  elected  had  to  be 
assigned  to  the  work  by  the  Conference,  which  did  not 
meet  till  November.  So  it  was  arranged  that  the  work 
should  be  commenced  next  spring. 

In  the  interval  Dr.  Leroy  M.  Lee,  then  editor  of  the 
Richmond  Christian  Advocate,  proceeded  to  write  and 
publish  from  time  to  time  a  series  of  articles  on  ' '  Chris- 
tian Education  " — articles  probably  not  surpassed  in  force 
and  pertinence  by  any  ever  written  on  the  subject.  He 
kept  the  matter  of  the  canvass  which  was  to  be  inaugu- 
rated the  coming  year  before  the  Methodist  public,  and 
thus  effectually  paved  the  way  for  better  success. 

In  May,  1855,  the  agent  and  president  of  the  College 
began  the  active  field  work  to  raise  the  amount  to  one 
hundred  thousand  dollars  at  Crenshaw's  Church,  on  the 
Nottoway  circuit,  near  Blacks  and  Whites  station,  on  the 
the  (then)  Southside  Railroad.  At  this  church  a  mass- 
meeting  was  held,  lasting  several  days.  There  were  pres- 
ent, in  addition  to  the  leaders  above  named,  Dr.  Leroy 
M.  Lee,  editor,  who  was  much  interested  in  the  effort. 

Dr.  Smith  was  the  chief  speaker,  and  he  never  ap- 
peared to  better  advantage,  having  the  sympathy  and 
interest  of  the  audience  with  him  from  the  start.  Dr. 
Lee  followed  him.  Agent  Cowles  struck  while  the  iron 
was  hot  and  took  the  subscription,  which,  in  addition  to 
what  was  secured  in  the  circuit  in  the  next  few  days, 
amounted  to  five  thousand  dollars.  This  gave  the  en- 
terprise a  good  send-off,  and  was  received  and  accepted 
by  the  church  at  large  as  an  augury  of  final  success, 
which  proved  to  be  true.  The  agents  did  not  relax  their 
efforts  till  the  limit  was  reached. 

There  were  several  circumstances  which  made  this 
effort  a  success.  The  men  in  charge  were  the  right 
men.  Dr.  Smith  was  a  great  man  before  the  people. 


HISTORY  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE.    131 

Few  men  who  lived  in  the  State  ever  equalled,  fewer 
still  ever  surpassed  him.  His  colleague,  while  not  de- 
ficient in  public  speaking  (he  was  a  most  excellent 
preacher),  was  gifted  with  good  business  address  and 
tact,  well  versed  in  reading  and  managing  mankind  in 
general,  and  thorough  in  his  business  transactions,  se- 
curing all  the  benefits  which  were  possible.  Both  were 
largely  acquainted  throughout  the  Conference. 

The  times  were  propitious.  The  decade  beginning 
1851  was  the  golden  era  in  the  material  prosperity  of 
Virginia.  The  spirit  of  improvement  in  lands,  building 
railroads,  and  plank  roads,  and  other  roads  was  at  its 
height.  Most  of  the  great  lines  throughout  the  State 
were  built  during  this  decade — the  Richmond  and  Dan- 
ville, the  Southside  (Petersburg  and  Lynchburg),  the 
Virginia  and  Tennessee  (Lynchburg  to  Bristol),  the 
Orange  and  Alexandria  (Lynchburg  and  Alexandria), 
and  the  Roanoke  Valley  (C  larks ville  and  Ridgway, 
N.  C.),  and  others  were  built  or  projected.  The  last 
named  brought  railway  communication  within  twelve 
miles  of  the  College,  and  Keysville,  on  the  Richmond 
and  Danville,  was  within  thirty-five  miles  of  the  Col- 
lege. Besides  these  improvements,  a  plank  road  was 
built  from  Petersburg  to  Clarksville,  which  was,  as  long 
as  it  lasted,  a  great  improvement.  Another  plank  road 
from  Blacks  and  Whites,  on  the  Southside  Railroad,  was 
built  through  Lunenburg  in  the  direction  of  Boydton, 
but  its  terminus  was  twenty  miles  short  of  reaching  it. 

The  Crimean  war,  involving  the  great  Powers  of 
Europe,  raised  the  price  of  wheat  to  a  price  seldom,  if 
ever,  reached  previously.  It  sold  in  i853~'54  for  $2.35 
per  bushel,  and  good  prices  were  maintained  for  the  bal- 
ance of  the  decade.  Lands  in  the  State,  which  had  been 
low  in  price,  were  increased  in  value  one  hundred  per 


132'  HISTORY  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE 

cent,  and  other  property  in  something  like  the  same 
ratio.  All  this  made  people  more  ready  to  contribute  as 
well  as  more  able. 

COLLEGE  YEAR  i854-'55. 

This  College  year  was  marked  by  no  special  change  or 
event.      The   President's  report  notes:   matriculates  in 


DAVID  R.   DUNCAN, 
Major  C.  .V.  .).  ,•  Senator  S.  C.  Legislature. 

College  during  the  session,   134,   72  of  whom  were  on 
scholarships. 

Professor  Samuel  Lander,  A.  M.,  entered  upon  his 
duties  as  Adjunct  Professor  of  Languages,  and  W.  A. 
She'pard  was  Assistant  in  the  Laboratory. 


HIST  OR  Y  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE.    13-3 

At  the  annual  meeting,  June,  1855,  degrees  were  con- 

ferred : 

A.  B 

GEORGE  E.  BOOKER,  Va.  JAMES  C.  HANES,  Va. 

JAMES  B.  BUGGER,  Va.  PETER  A.  MOSES,  Va. 

WILLIAM  N.  CARTER,  Va.  ROBERT  N.  SLEDD,  Va. 

JOHN  E.  CHRISTIAN,  Va.  DAVID  R.  DUNCAN,  S.  C. 

THOMAS  A.  GATCH,  Va.  OLIVER  G.  SMITH,  N.  C. 

A.  M. 

THOMAS  E.  MASSIE,  Va.  ROBERT  M.  MALLORY,  Va. 

SAMUEL  LANDER,  N.  C.  HENRY  W.  WINGFIELD,  Va. 

ROWLAND  DOGGETT,  Va.  BENJAMIN  W.  OGBURN,  Va. 

JOHN  F.  DANCE,  Va.  SAM'L  B.  PAUL  (Honorary),  Va. 
JOHN  F.  OGBURN,  Va. 


COLLEGE  YEAR 

The  celebrated  trial  of  Deems  vs.  Smith  took  place 
at  the  Virginia  Conference  held  in  Petersbuig,  Novem- 
ber, 1855.  The  charges  were  presented  by  Dr.  C.  F. 
Deems  in  person,  and  defence  made  by  Dr.  Smith.  The 
verdict  was  almost  unanimous,  finding  Dr.  Smith  not 
guilty. 

The  result  of  this  unfortunate  affair  was  the  resigna- 
tion of  quite  a  number  of  the  Trustees  from  the  North 
Conference,  that  Conference  having  espoused  the  cause 
of  Dr.  Deems  by  a  very  large  majority. 

At  the  meeting  of  the  Trustees  in  June,  1856,  Dr. 
Smith  tendered  his  resignation  as  President  of  the  Col- 
lege. The  Board  refused  to  accept  the  resignation,  only 
two  voting  to  receive  it. 

This  year  the  first  catalogue,  as  printed,  comes  to  us. 
Others  had  been  printed,  but  no  copies  preserved. 

Of  the  original  charter  members  of  the  Board  all  had 
died  or  retired  but  John  Early,  William  A.  Smith,  Mathew 
M.  Dance  and  John  G.  Claiborne.  All  the  original  mem- 


134    HISTORY  OF  RANDOLPH-  MACON  COLLEGE. 

bers  of  the  Faculty  had  resigned.     Students  in  College, 
93;  in  Preparatory  School,  36 — total,  129. 

We  have  no  mention  of  the  several  Preparatory  schools 
in  North  Carolina.  Thos.  A.  Gatch,  A.  B.,  was  Princi- 
pal of  the  Home  School. 


w.  T.  BAII.EY, 

Killed  at  Gctteysburg  :  buried  on  the  field. 

A  resolution  was  adopted  by  the  Board  asking  the 
Legislature  to  establish  a  school  of  ' '  military  tactics ' '  in 
connection  with  the  College,  but  nothing  ever  came  of  it. 

In  January,  1856,  a  most  remarkable  fall  of  snow  oc- 
curred, with  a  temperature  of  ten  degrees  below  zero. 
The  snow  was  fifteen  inches  deep. 


HISTORY  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE.    135 

In  June,  1856,  the  following  received  degrees: 
A.  B. 

W.  T.  BAILEY,  Va.  WILLIAM  T.  MERRITT,  Va. 

GREEN  A.  JACKSON,  Va.  JOHN  P.  FULLER,  N.  C. 

THOMAS  L.  JACKSON,  Va. 

A.  M. 

JAMES  E.  SEBRKLL,  Va.  WILLIAM  A.  BRAME,  Va. 

JAMES  D.  PROCTOR,  Va. 


COLLEGE  YEAR 

The  changes  in  the  Faculty  this  year  were  the  resig- 
nation of  Assistant  Professor  Samuel  Lander,  whose 
place  was  not  filled,  and  the  substitution  of  Charles  W. 
Crawley,  Principal  of  the  Preparatory  School  for  Thomas 
A.  Gatch,  resigned. 

In  June,  1857,  Professor  Charles  B.  Stuart  resigned 
the  Chair  of  Chemistry  and  Geology,  and  Professor  N. 
T.  Lupton  succeeded  him.  Professor  O.  H.  P.  Corprew 
at  same  time  resigned  the  Chair  of  Ancient  Languages, 
and  Professor  William  B.  Carr  succeeded  him. 

The  degrees  conferred  June,  1857,  were  — 

A.  B. 

GEORGE  W.  ARMISTEAD,  Va.  WILBUR  F.  DAVIS,  N.  C. 

WILLIAM  I.  COWLES,  Va.  JOHN  B.  WILLIAMS,  N.  C. 

RICHARD  W.  JONES,  Va.  WILLIAM  W.  PENNY,  Mo. 

JOSEPH  E.  LEIGH,  Va.  WILLIAM  A.  SHEPARD,  Mass. 
EDWIN  G.  MOORE,  N.  C. 

A.  M. 

WILLIAM  G.  CONNOR,  Tenn.  ADOLPHUS  W.  MANGUM,  N.  C. 

L.  O.  RIVES,  Tenn.  AMUEL  MOORE,  Va. 

GARLAND  B.  HANES,  Va.  THOMAS  C.  ELDER,  Va. 

THAD.  L.  H.  YOUNG,  Va.  THOMAS  C.  THACKSTON,  Va. 

JESSE  P.  BAGBY,  N.  C.  WILLIAM  H.  CHEEK,  N.  C. 

Number  of  students  during  the  session,  144,  including 
those  at  the  Preparatory  School  (34). 


i36    HISTORY  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE. 

The  worst  blizzard  ever  known  in  Virginia  occurred 
in  January,  1857;  thermometer  ten  degrees  below  zero. 
Some  suffering  in  the  College  for  want  of  fuel. 

COLLEGE  YEAR  1857-' 58. 

This  year  was  reasonably  prosperous.  Some  dissatis- 
faction was  expressed  in  the  president's  annual  report  on 
account  of  salaries. 


RICHARD  W.  JONES,  A.   M.,   LL.   D., 

Major  C.  S.  A.  ;  President  Mississippi  Industral  Institute ;  J'ro/cssor  Mississifft 
University  and  Randolph-Macon  College. 

In  June,  1858,  Prof.  Lupton  resigned  the  chair  of 
Chemistry  and  Geology,  which  was  subsequently  sup- 
plied by  the  election  of  Prof.  Bennett  Puryear,  of  Rich- 
mond College. 


HISTORY  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE.    137 

Dr.  W.  A.  Smith  again  tendered  his  resignation,  for 
reasons  personal  to  himself.  At  the  urgent  solicitation 
of  the  students,  the  Alumni  Society,  and  the  Board,  he 
withdrew  his  resignation. 


REV.   RICHARD  FERGUSON, 

« 

yirginia;  Adjutant  Eighteenth  Va.  Regiment. 

Degrees  were  conferred  as  follows  : 

A.  B. 

BENJAMIN  H.  THACKSTON,  Va.       ALEX.  MALLORY,  Va. 


RICHARD  FERGUSON,  Va. 
VICTOR  M.  BRANDON,  Va. 
RICHARD  B.  HOLSTEAD,  Va. 
ROBERT  S.  ISBELL,  Va. 


ROBERT  MOORE,  Va. 
CLAUDIUS  G.  PHILLIPS,  Va. 
PITTMAN  R.  VENABLE,  Va. 
RICHARD  O.  WYATT,  Va. 


B.  L.  AND   S. 
WALTER  M.  IRBY,  Virginia. 


133    HISTORY  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE. 

A.  M. 

GEORGE  E.  BOOKER,  Va.  JAMES  C.  HANES,  Va. 

PETER  A.  MOSES,  Ark.  Prof.  JOHN  C.  WILLS  (Honorary), 

THOMAS  A.  GATCH,  Va.  Randolph-Macon  College). 

ROBERT  N.  SI.EDD,  Va. 

Students  in  College  this  session,  109;  in  Preparatory 
School,  1 6 — total,  125. 

THE  ENDOWMENT  RAISED  TO  $100,000. 

At  a  called  meeting  of  the  Board  December  27,  1858, 
the  following  action  was  taken  : 

"The  Board,  being  satisfied,  from  an  examination  of 
the  bonds  and  subscriptions  obtained  by  the  agent,  that 
the  endowment  fund  of  the  College,  in  bonds,  cash,  and 
valid  subscriptions,  has  been  raised  to  and  above  one 
hundred  thousand  dollars  ;  therefore  be  it 

"Resolved,  Tnat  the  following  notice  be  given  through 
the  newspapers  of  the  State,  viz.  :  '  By  order  of  the  Board 
of  Trustees  of  Randolph -M  aeon  College,  at  a  meeting 
held  this  day,  notice  is  hereby  given  to  those  persons 
who  have  contributed  by  bonds  and  subscriptions  to  in- 
crease the  endowment  of  the  College  that  the  said  fund 
has  been  raised  to  the  amount  of  one  hundred  thousand 
dollars  in  bonds,  cash,  and  valid  subscriptions,  that  their 
obligations  have  become  absolute,  and  it  is  hoped  that 
they  will  discharge  them,  in  order  that  the  money  may 
be  invested  in  permanent  form  as  soon  as  practicable.' ' 

The  herculean  task  of  raising  the  largest  endowment 
fund  ever  contributed  to  any  college  in  Virginia  or  in 
the  South  up  to  this  date  by  public  subscription  was  thus 
confirmed.  When  it  is  considered  that  the  larger  part 
of  this  amount* was  contributed  by  individuals  in  sums 
ranging  from  five  to  one  thousand  dollars  (the  latter 
sum  the  largest  contributed  by  one  subscriber),  the  im- 
mense labor  and  difficulties  of  the  undertaking  may  be, 


HISTORY  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE.    139 

to  some  extent,  estimated.  But  the  large  number  of 
subscribers  evidenced  one  gratifying  fact,  that  after  the 
subject  of  education  had  been  ventilated  in  mass-meet- 
ings, the  people  had  become  interested  in  Christian  edu- 
cation, and  had  given  practical  proof  of  that  interest. 


HENRY  B.  COWLES, 
Virginia  Conference  ;  Agent  Randolph-Macon  College. 

The  friends  of  the  College  were  jubilant  over  this  great 
event,  which  seemed  to  insure  new  life  and  energy  to 
the  College,  the  subject  of  so  many  hopes  and  prayers. 
The  three  great  moving  and  active  agents  in  consum- 
mating the  work — President  W.  A.  Smith,  Dr.  Leroy 
M.  Lee,  and  Agent  Rev.  Henry  B.  Cowles — are  worthy 


140    HISTOR  Y  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE. 

of  all  honor,  and  their  names  should  be  handed  down  to 
succeeding  generations  as  the  benefactors  of  their  State 
and  church. 

At  the  commencement,  June,  1859,  there  was  a  large 
re-union  of  the  Alumni  of  Randolph- Macon  to  rejoice 
over  the  endowment  secured  and  to  consult  together 
about  the  interests  of  the  College.  Prominent  among 
those  present  were  Rev.  President  John  C.  Blackwell, 
the  oldest  alumnus;  Rev.  Holland  N.  McTyeire,  D.  D., 
editor  of  the  Nashville  Christian  Advocate ;  Rev.  James 
A.  Duncan,  Hon.  Thomas  H.  Campbell,  etc.  A  ban- 
quet of  the  Society  was  held,  which  was  attended  by 
many  of  its  members  and  invited  guests.  The  Society 
of  Alumni  adopted  the  following  preamble  and  resolu- 
tions : 

"Whereas  the  Bible,  as  the  word  of  God,  contains  the 
highest  wisdom  as  well  as  the  highest  truth ;  and  whereas 
it  is  the  oldest  as  well  as  the  best  of  books,  and  bears  a 
vital  relation  to  literature  and  civilization  as  well  as  to 
religion ;  and  whereas  a  knowledge  of  its  teachings  and 
the  history  of  those  religious  opinions  and  institutions 
which  have  exercised  a  controlling  influence  upon  the 
character  and  destiny  of  mankind  is  necessary  to  a  broad, 
liberal  and  complete  education  ;  therefore, 

"Resolved,  i.  That  the  Bible,  as  a  text-book,  ought 
to  occupy  a  central  place  in  education,  as  it  does  in 
morals. 

"2.  That  it  is  eminently  proper  for  the  church,  in 
conducting  education,  to  give  the  Bible  such  a  place  and 
distinct  recognition. 

"3.  That  we,  the  alumni  of  Randolph -Macon  College, 
recommend  and  respectfully  urge  upon  the  Board  of 
Trustees  the  creation  of  a  Chair  of  Biblical  Literature, 
whose  instruction  shall  be  accessible  to  all  students  of 


HISTOR  Y  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE.    141 

the  College  who  shall  desire  to  include  them  in  their 
course  of  study,  and  shall  be  extended  free  of  charge  to 
any  young  men  who  are  studying  with  a  view  to  the 
Christian  ministry. 

' '  4.  That  we  recommend  that  the  Virginia  Conference 
and  the  friends  and  patrons  of  the  College  everywhere 


REV.    WILLIAM  S.   DAVIS, 
Of  i he  North  Carolina  Conference;  General  of  Cavalry  in  the  C.  S.  A. 

take  measures  for  speedily  endowing  a  Chair  of  Biblical 

Literature. 

(Signed)          "  HOLLAND  N.  MCTYEIRE. 
"JOHN  C.  BLACKWELL." 

This  was  the  most  pleasant  and  cheering  commence- 
ment occasion  which  had  occurred  for  many  years.    The 


U2    HISTOR  Y  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE. 

catalogue  showed  the  attendance  to  have  been :  Stu- 
dents in  College,  119;  in  Preparatory  School,  22 — total, 
141.  This  year  the  old  curriculum  of  four  years  was 
abandoned,  and  the  course  was  made  elective,  with  the 
following  departments,  viz.  : 


THOMAS  J.  JARVIS,   I.I..   I)., 
Ex-Governor  of  North  Carolina:  Senator  in  U.  S.  Congress;  Minister  to  Brazil. 

1.  Ancient  Languages, 

2.  Mathematics, 

3.  Chemistry  and  Natural  Philosophy, 

4.  Moral  Philosophy, 

5.  Modern  Languages, 

6.  Preparatory. 


HISTOR  Y  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE.    143 

A.  B.  and  A.  M.  courses  for  degrees  were  estab- 
lished. 

Professor  J.  C.  Wills  resigned  the  Chair  of  Mathe- 
matics. He  left  much  to  the  regret  of  the  Board  and 
the  Faculty  to  take  a  professorship  at  the  Southern  Uni- 
versity, Greensboro,  Ala.  Mr.  Robert  T.  Massie  was 
elected  to  fill  the  vacancy.  Robert  S.  Isbell  was  Princi- 
pal of  the  Preparatory  School. 

The  following  degrees  were  conferred  : 

A.  B. 

WILLIAM  S.  DAVIS,  N.  C.  THOMAS  J.  OVERBY,  N.  C. 

AURELIUS  T.  GILL,  Va.  JOHN  L.  CHAMBERLAIN,  N.  C. 

ADAM  C.  BAGBY,  Va.  EDWIN  S.  HARDY,  Va. 

JOHN  L.  JOHNSON,  Va.  JOHN  W.  JONES,  Va. 

HENRY  B.  COWLES,  JR.;  Va.  WILLIAM  G.  STARR,  Va. 

JOHN  DAVIDSON  BLACKWELi.,Va.     CHRISTOPHER  THROWER,  Ark. 
WILLIAM  H.  DAVIS,  Va.  LEROY  S.  EDWARDS,  Va. 

JOHN  T.  HUMPHREYS,  Va.  LUTHER  WRIGHT,  Va. 

ENGLISH  AND  SCIENCE. 

J.  W.  HEARTSFIELD,  N.  C.  THOMAS  W.  BRANCH,  Va. 

F.  X.  MILLER,  N.  C. 

A.  M. 

DR.  SAMUEL  D.  SANDERS,  S.  C.      JOHN  E.  CHRISTIAN,  Va. 
WILLIAM  T.  MERRITT,  Va.  JOHN  WILLIAMS,  N.  C. 

GREEN  A.  JACKSON,  Va.  ALEXANDER  HOGG,  Texas. 

ARGYLE  HALEY,  Va. 

D.  D. 

Prof.  A.  M.  SHIPP,  Wofford  College,  S.  C. 

COLLEGE  YEAR  i859~'6o. 

This  was  the  first  year  under  the  new  system  of  in- 
struction. At  the  annual  meeting  of  the  Board  of  Trus- 
tees, the  committee  on  "The  course  of  instruction  and 
new  system  of  government "  reported  very  favorably  on 
the  results,  and  advised  continuance  of  the  same,  with 
some  modifications. 


144    HISTORY  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE. 

The  Preparatory  School  was  abolished  this  year,  after 
an  unsuccessful  course  generally,  for  about  twenty-eight 
years.  The  number  of  students  in  attendance  this  year 
was:  in  College,  149;  in  Preparatory  School,  16 — total, 
165. 


B.   W.  ARNOLD,  A.   M., 
Professor  of  }',unierbilt  University;  Member  of  the  I'irginia  Legislature. 

Degrees  conferred  June,  1860,  under  new  course  : 

A.  B. 

JOSEPH  D.  ARNOLD,  Va.  WILLIAM  P.  HILL,  Va. 

THOMAS  J.  JARVIS,  N.  C. 

A.  M. 

BENJ.  W.  ARNOLD,  Va.  WILLIAM  M.  JONES,  Va. 

ANTHONY  DIBRELL,  Va.  JAMES  H.  PEAY,  Va. 

GEORGE  B.  FINCH,  Va.  BENJAMIN  I.  SCOTT,  Va. 

P.  FLETCHER  FORD.  Va.  JOHN  W.  TAYLOR,  Va. 


HISTOR  Y  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON*  COLLEGE.    145 

A.  M.,  under  the  old  course. 

WILLIAM  I.  COWLES,  Va.  EDWIN  G.  MOORE,  N.  C. 

RICHARD  W.  JONES,  Va.  GEORGE  W.  ARMISTEAD,  Va. 

JOHN  B.  WILLIAMS,  N.  C.  WILLIAM  A.  SHEPARD,  Va. 

WILBUR  F.  DAVIS,  Va.  JOHN  L.  GILLESPIE,  Va. 

COLLEGE  YEAR  i86o-'6i. 

This  College  year  reached  into  the  first  year  of  the 
civil  war.  The  matriculation  at  the  opening  was  fairly 
good,  but  during  the  second  term  many  of  the  young 
men  left  to  enter  the  military  service.  The  Commence- 
ment exercises  were  dispensed  with,  and  the  Board  con- 
ferred only  a  few  degrees.  Those  receiving  them  were — 

A.  M. 

RICHARD  B.  HOLSTEAD,  Va.  RICHARD  O.  WYATT,  Va. 

D   D 

REV.  JOHN  C.  BLACKWELL,  A.  M.,  Pres.  Buckingham  Female  Inst. 

Under  the  discouraging  circumstances  the  Board  de- 
termined to  suspend  the  exercises  of  the  College — a  very 
wise  move,  but  unfortunately  it  was  countermanded  at 
a  subsequent  meeting. 

COLLEGE  YEAR  i86i-'62. 

At  a  called  meeting  of  the  Board  held  August  29,  1861, 
the  previous  action  of  the  Board  was  rescinded,  and  it 
was  resolved,  ' '  That  the  College  be  opened  at  the  usual 
time  under  a  complete  system  of  military  government, 
and  Rev.  Major  William  H.  Wheelwright  Was  elected 
Professor  of  Military  Tactics." 

At  a  subsequent  meeting  of  the  Board,  Professor  Lewis 
Turner  was  elected  to  the  Chair  of  Mathematics,  vacated 
by  the  resignation  of  Professor  Massie,  who  had  entered 
the  military  service;  Professor  W.  A.  Shepard  had  also 
entered  the  service,  but  his  place  was  not  filled. 

10 


i46   HISTOR  Y  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE. 

At  a  meeting  held  in  Norfolk,  Va.,  November  22, 
1 86 1,  a  committee  was  appointed  to  secure  a  change  in 
the  charter,  authorizing  the  military  feature  proposed 
for  the  College. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Board  held  January  20,  1862,  J. 
E.  Blankenship  was  elected  Professor  in  place  of  Major 
Wheelwright,  who  declined  to  accept  the  position  offered 
him.  On  the  2oth  February  the  military  organization 
was  completed  by  the  action  of  the  Executive  Commit- 
tee. It  was  as  follows,  viz. : 

REV.  WM.  A.  SMITH,  D.  D.,  Col.  Commanding  Corps  Cadets. 

J.  E.  BLANKENSHIP,  Major.  Professor  Mathematics  and  Military 

Science. 

BENNETT  PURYEAR,  Captain,  Professor  Chemistry. 
WILLIAM  B.  CARR,  Captain,  Professor  Ancient  Languages. 
G.  STAUBLY,  Captain,  Professor  Modern  Languages. 

A  long  schedule  of  military  rules  was  adopted — too 
long  for  their  insertion  here,  and  much  longer  than  their 
existence  would  have  justified. 

Those  who  reversed  the  deliberate  action  of  the  Board 
at  the  annual  meeting,  carried  away  with  the  excitement 
of  the  times,  thought  they  were  doing  the  best,  but,  as 
we  look  at  it  now,  it  appears  a  solemn  farce.  It  was 
also  an  expensive  one. 

At  the  close  of  the  year,  June,  1862,  the  following  re- 
ceived degrees  : 

A.  M. 

WILLIAM  A.  ARCHER,  Va.  R.  A.  COMPTON,  Va. 

J.  E.  BUTLER,  Ark.  WILLIAM  S.  WILLIAMS,  Mo. 

GRADUATES  OF  FORMER  YEARS. 

WILLIAM  G.  STARR,  ROBERT  S.  ISBELL, 

JOHN  D.  BLACKWELL. 

A.  B. 

WILLIAM  E.  EDWARDS. 
B.  L.  ARNOLD,  Va. 


HISTOR  Y  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE.    147 

At  the  annual  meeting,  June,  1862,  of  the  Trustees,- 
the  following  resolution  was  adopted : 

' '  This  Board,  having  the  utmost  confidence  in  the 
ability  of  the  Confederate  States  to  maintain  their  inde- 
pendence, and  that  it  is  safe  to  make  investment  in  their 


WILLIAM  E.   EDWARDS,   D.   D., 
A.  B.,lSb2. 


stocks  (bonds),  is  of  the  opinion  that  it  would  be  judi- 
cious to  sell  out  our  stocks  which  do  not  pay  an  interest 
of  more  than  six  per  cent.,  and  to  invest  the  same  in 
Confederate  States  bonds,  bearing  an  interest  of  eight 
per  cent.  And  that  the  President  of  the  College  be  re- 
quested to  confer  with  our  Investing  Agent  on  the  sub- 


148    HISTOR  Y  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE. 

ject,  and  that  if  the  investing  Agent  concur  with  the 
Board  in  the  propriety  of  the  exchance  of  stocks,  that  he 
proceed  to  make  it." 

Under  the  military  regime  the  session  opened  as  usual 
in  September,  1862.  The  number  of  students  in  attend- 
ance was  small,  as  might  have  been  expected. 

The  board  of  students  was  fixed  at  $25  per  month, 
with  the  following  bill  of  fare  at  the  Mess  Hall : 

"For  breakfast — Sugar,  coffee  (or  substitute)  or  milk 
(those  using  the  one  will  not  be  entitled  to  the  other),  flour- 
bread,  viz.,  loaf  bread  and  biscuit,  and  either  batter-bread, 
waffles  or  muffins,  butter,  cold  or  fried  bacon,  or  hash. 

"For  dinner — Boiled  bacon  and  cabbage,  or  other 
greens,  and  one  of  the  following  kinds  of  meats,  viz., 
beef,  mutton,  shoat  or  fowls,  with  the  vegetables  of  the 
season,  and  corn-bread. 

"For  supper—  Sugar,  coffee  (or  a  substitute)  or  milk, 
as  at  breakfast,  flour-bread,  viz.,  loaf-bread  and  biscuit, 
and  either  batter-bread,  waffles,  muffins,  or  toast-bread 
and  butter." 

What  soldier  could  not  fight  on  such  fare  as  this ! 

In  October,  1862,  Professor  Staubly  resigned,  and  soon 
afterwards  went  to  Petersburg,  along  with  Professor  W. 
B.  Carr,  to  teach  in  the  Petersburg  Female  College. 
They  were  thus  engaged  till  the  gth  of  June,  1864,  when 
General  Kautz  attacked  the  Home  Guards,  under  the 
command  of  Major  F.  H.  Archer.  In  this  engagement 
Professors  Carr  and  Staubly  were  participants,  and  the 
latter  was  killed,  along  with  Geo.  B.  Jones,  a  Randolph- 
Macon  alumnus. 

At  a  called  meeting  of  the  Trustees  held  December 
1 8,  1862,  the  President  presented  to  the  consideration  of 
the  Board  the  condition  of  the  College,  with  an  exhibit 
of  receipts  and  disbursements. 


HISTOR  Y  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE.    149 

After  much  deliberation,  it  was  ordered  that  the 
operations  of  the  College  be  suspended  from  and  after 
the  5th  of  February,  1863,  to  the  opening  of  the  fall 
term  in  September  following. 

Dr.  W.  A.  Smith  was  placed  in  charge  of  the  property. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Trustees  held  July  24,  1863,  the 
President  in  his  report  in  regard  to  the  closing  term  said  : 
' '  The  College  opened  September,  1862,  with  about  twenty 
students,  which  number  gradually  increased  to  forty-four. 
The  Conscript  Act  then  went  into  operation,  and  took 
nearly  half  that  number. 

Then,  on  motion,  it  was  ordered  that  the  exercises  of 
the  College  be  suspended  until  otherwise  ordered. 

The  Virginia  Conference  of  the  M.  E.  Church,  South, 
held  it  annual  session  at  Broad-street  Methodist  Church 
November,  1863.  At  this  Conference  the  following 
resolution  was  adopted : 

' ( Resolved,  That  we  recommend  the  Trustees  of  Ran- 
dolph-Macon  College  to  remove  it  from  its  present  site 
to  some  more  eligible  locality,  and  we  call  their  attention 
specially  to  the  advantages  presented  by  Lynchburg  as 
the  place  to  which  it  should  be  transferred." 

A  meeting  of  the  Trustees  was  called  to  consider  the 
resolution  of  the  Conference,  and  the  Trustees  assembled 
at  Broad-street  Church  November  26,  1863. 

As  there  were  only  nine  members  in  attendance,  the 
Trustees  adjourned  to  meet  in  the  city  of  Petersburg  on 
the  2Oth  of  January,  to  consider  the  recommendation  of 
the  Conference,  and  an  order  was  made  that  notice  of  the 
adjourned  meeting  be  given  in  the  newspapers  of  Rich- 
mond and  Petersburg. 

The  Trustees  of  Randolph-Macon  College  met,  pur- 
suant .to  adjournment,  at  the  Washington-street  M.  E. 
Church,  Petersburg,  Va.,  on  Wednesday,  January  20, 


i5o    HISTOR  Y  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE. 

1864.  There  were  present  seventeen  members.  The 
chairman,  President  Smith,  presented  the  resolution  of 
the  Conference,  given  above. 

After  considerable  discussion,  the  following  was 
agreed  upon  as  the  sense  of  the  Board : 

"Resolved  unanimously,  That  while  the  Board  of  Trus- 
tees of  Randolph- Macon  College  are  not  prepared  to  take 
decisive  action  on  the  resolution  of  the  Virginia  Con- 
ference in  relation  to  the  change  of  location  of  said  Col- 
lege, yet  this  Board  so  far  concurs  in  the  spirit  of  their 
resolution  as  to  appoint  five  members  as  a  committee  of 
the  Board  to  take  immediate  steps  to  ascertain  the  com- 
parative advantages  offered  by  other  localities  with  a 
view  to  its  removal ;  and  that  the  committee  be  requested 
to  perform  their  duty  with  dispatch,  and  report  to  an  ad- 
journed meeting  to  be  held  in  Petersburg,  Va.,  on  Wed- 
nesday, March  9,  1864." 

The  following  were  appointed  said  committee:  Rev. 
W.  A.  Smith,  chairman,  Rev.  L.  M.  Lee,'  Rev.  J.  C. 
Black  well,  E.  R.  Chambers,  and  R.  M.  Smith;  and,  on 
motion,  Captain  Richard  Irby  was  added  to  the  com- 
mittee. 

The  Trustees  met,  pursuant  to  adjournment,  in  Wash- 
ington-street M.  E.  Church,  Petersburg,  Va.,  March  9, 
1864. 

The  committee  appointed  at  the  meeting  January  20 
last  made  report,  as  follows : 

"The  committee  to  whom  were  referred  the  compara- 
tive claims  of  the  different  localities  which  have  been 
spoken  of  as  offering  the  most  encouraging  prospects  of 
success  beg  leave  to  submit,  that  such  is  the  unsettled 
state  of  public  opinion  as  to  the  financial  condition  of  the 
country  at  this  time,  and  for  some  time  to  come,  that  no 
enlightened  judgment  can  be  reached  by  your  commit- 


HISTOR  Y  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE.    1 5 1 

tee  as  to  the  advantages  offered  by  other  localities  com- 
pared with  the  present  location  of  the  College,  we  beg, 
therefore,  to  be  relieved  from  the  further  consideration 
of  the  subject. 

"(Signed)         WM.  A.  SMITH,  Chairman." 

The  following  order  was  adopted  in  regard  to  the  re- 
port, viz. : 

"Resolved,  That  the  report  of  the  committee  be  re- 
ferred back  to  the  same  committee,  with  instructions  to 
take  into  consideration  all  the  subjects  committed  to  them 
at  the  meeting  held  in  Petersburg  on  the  2Oth  January 
last,  and  report  to  a  subsequent  meeting  to  be  held  in 
Petersburg  at  the  call  of  the  President,  or  when  he  may 
be  requested  to  call  a  meeting  by  any  five  members  of 
the  Board  of  Trustees. ' ' 

This  meeting  was  never  called.  The  committee  never 
formulated  any  further  report.  In  a  few  weeks  after  the 
meeting  was  held,  Petersburg  was  invested  by  the  Federal 
army,  under  General  Grant.  This  investment  was  con- 
tinued until  April,  1865,  when  General  Lee's  right  wing 
was  turned,  Petersburg  and  Richmond  evacuated,  and 
the  final  surrender  at  Appomattox. 

The  following  reminiscences  of  the  last  days  of  the 
College  before  the  suspension  are  given  by  Rev.  Dr.  W. 
E.  Edwards,  who  was  at  the  College  till  near  the  close: 

"The  years  1860-1862  were  among  the  most  memora- 
ble in  the  history  of  the  College.  In  1860  the  College, 
perhaps,  had  attained  the  climax  of  its  ante-bellum 
prosperity.  It  had  met  difficulties  and  conquered  them. 
It  had  grown  and  developed  into  commanding  impor- 
tance. A  future  of  great  promise  opened  up  before  it. 
Dr.  William  A.  Smith  was  now  at  the  zenith  of  his  great 
popularity  as  a  college  president  and  as  an  instructor  in 


152    HISTORY  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE.  . 

Moral  Philosophy.  The  changes  which  from  time  to 
time  he  had  introduced  in  the  management  of  affairs 
bore  continually-increasing  fruit  in  the  orderly  conduct 
of  students  and  in  their  closer  application  to  books  ;  nay, 
more,  his  adaptation  to  the  professorial  duties  which  he 
had  assumed  shone  out  conspicuously  before  the  church 
and  the  state.  He  was  endowed  with  splendid  abili- 
ties— an  intellectual  giant.  Especially  was  he  a  born 
metaphysician.  He  possessed  a  power  of  introspection 
and  an  aptness  for  the  logical  arrangement  of  truth  that 
fall  to  the  lot  of  but  few  men  in  life ;  and  now,  by  patient 
toil,  he  elaborated  and  delivered  to  his  classes  a  course 
of  original  lectures  upon  the  various  subjects  in  his  spe- 
cial department,  which  of  itself  would  justly  entitle  him 
to  a  high  rank  among  the  instructors  of  the  country.  It 
is  to  be  regretted  that  these  lectures  were  never  written 
out  in  extenso  and  given  to  the  public.  No  doubt,  at 
certain  points,  they  would  disclose  a  lack  of  thorough- 
ness, due  to  the  absence  of  large  and  general  reading; 
still  they  would  manifest  a  marked  degree  of  original 
and  profound  investigation,  and  would  prove,  what  can- 
not be  said  of  all  that  to-day  is  taught  in  our  colleges 
under  the  name  of  Moral  Science,  exceedingly  helpful  in 
the  proper  culture  and  discipline  of  character.  In  other 
words,  the  Doctor,  in  the  plan  and  order  of  his  talent, 
was  practical  rather  than  speculative. 

"  The  dark  cloud  of  civil  war,  so  long  anticipated  and 
dreaded,  now  appeared  with  threatening  aspect  upon  the 
horizon.  The  presidential  nominees  were  made.  In- 
tense excitement  pervaded  every  department  of  society. 
Still  the  attendance  of  students  upon  the  fall  session  of 
the  College  for  1860  was  not  much  abated.  Of  course, 
the  storm  without  was  felt  in  the  narrower  circle  of  col- 
lege life;  all  the  circumstances  of  a  regular  political 


HISTORY  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE.    153 

campaign  was  here  faithfully  enacted.  Parties  were 
formed ;  electors  were  chosen ;  speeches  were  made ; 
votes  were  cast.  The  majority  upon  which  so  impor- 
tant a  decision  was  made  (to  the  best  of  my  memory) 
was  five,  yet,  in  spite  of  this  political  strife,  studies  were 
pursued  with  the  zest  and  regularity  of  former  years. 
A  few  months  passed  by.  The  great  American  people, 
despite  the  students  of  Randolph- Macon  College,  decided 
who  should  be  the  President  of  the  country,  and  declared 
in  favor  of  Abraham  Lincoln,  '  the  rail-splitter  of  Illinois.' 
The  College  participated  more  and  more  in  the  effects  of 
the  increasing  excitement.  Many  students  from  the 
seceded  States  returned  to  their  homes.  At  length  the 
4th  of  March,  1861,  arrived.  Mr.  Lincoln  was  inducted 
into  office.  Immediately  he  called  for  seventy-five  thou- 
sand men  to  crush  the  'rebellion.'  Virginia,  so  long 
standing  aloof,  and  hoping  against  hope,  now  compelled 
to  make  a  decision,  unhesitatingly  cast  her  fortune  with 
that  of  her  Southern  sisters.  The  wildest  enthusiasm 
prevailed  among  the  students.  Bondfires  were  kindled ; 
a  great  torchlight  procession  was  formed  ;  the  different 
professors  were  visited,  and,  after  the  most  approved 
style,  called  on  for  speeches.  Then  the  march  was  con- 
tinued to  Boydton,  to  the  manifest  delight  of  the  citizens 
of  that  little  town  ;  and  then,  at  a  late  hour  of  the  night, 
the  line  was  broken,  and  every  one  was  left  to  find  his 
way  as  best  he  could  back  to  his  room.  It  is  a  time 
long  to  be  remembered. 

"Soon  students  in  large  numbers  left  for  their  homes 
to  prepare  for  war.  The  country  was  converted  into 
an  immense  camp.  So  great  was  the  depletion  in  the 
number  of  students,  and  so  great  was  the  excitement 
that  prevailed  throughout  the  country,  that  the  College 
authorities  deemed  it  inexpedient  to  hold  the  regular 


154    HISTOR  Y  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE. 

commencement  exercises  for  this  year.  So  closed  the 
term  of  i86o-'6i. 

"A  word  at  this  point:  In  those  days  it  was  not 
deemed  improper  or  unbecoming  for  ministers  of  the  gos- 
pel to  have  decided  views  upon  questions  of  state. 
There  were  clerical  Whigs  and  there  were  clerical  Demo- 
crats, and  very  stoutly  did  they  maintain  the  cause  of 
their  respective  parties.  Of  course,  they  never  entered 
the  political  arena,  but  in  private  and  around  the  fireside 
there  was  often  no  small  war  waged  by  these  '  gentle- 
men of  the  cloth'  over  the  great  issues  of  the  day.  Dr. 
William  A.  Smith  was  a  Democrat  of  the  Calhoun  stamp. 
He  believed  implicitly  in  the  right  of  secession,  a  sacred 
right  guaranteed  by  the  constitution,  and  was  not  slow 
to  give  the  reason  for  the  opinion  which  he  cherished. 
Still,  in  the  earlier  part  of  1861,  he  did  not  recognize  the 
necessity  for  the  exercise  of  this  right  on  the  part  of  the 
South.  He  thought  that  some  compromise  might  be 
effected  and  the  Union  saved;  yet  when  Mr.  Lincoln 
was  inaugurated,  and  his  policy  forecast  in  the  call  for 
seventy  thousand  men  to  crush  the  rebellion,  he  no 
longer  hesitated,  but  claimed  rights  which  before  he  was 
willing  to  ignore;  and  the  South  had  no  stauncher 
friend  or  more  zealous  advocate  than  he  during  all  those 
dark  days  of  fratricidal  strife,  even  to  the  close,  when 
drums  ceased  to  beat  and  the  battle-flags  were  furled. 

"We  start  a  new  era.  Vacation  begins.  The  excite- 
ment in  the  land,  if  possible,  becomes  more  intense. 
There  is  volunteering  for  service,  drilling,  hurrying  on 
to  the  front.  Everything  is  placed  under  contribution 
to  facilitate  and  render  successful  the  mighty  trial  of 
arms  which  is  impending.  The  battle  of  Manassas  is 
fought.  The  South  is  the  victor;  yet  the  fruits  are  not 
what  were  desired  and  anticipated.  The  war  cloud,  in- 


HISTORY  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE.    155 

stead  of  vanishing,  grows  denser.  The  evidences  of  a 
protracted  and  sanguinary  conflict  become  manifest. 
The  trustees  of  the  College,  under  existing  circum- 
stances, were  embarrassed.  They  knew  not  what  to  do  ; 
yet  in  the  early  part  of  July  they  declared  against  the 
opening  of  the  doors  of  the  institution  for  the  coming 
year.  Later  on,  however,  they  reversed  this  decision, 
and  the  College  began  its  fall  session  at  the  usual  time. 
Several  important  changes  are  here  to  be  noticed.  First, 
the  number  of  students  was  perceptibly  smaller  than 
usual ;  the  whole  body,  perhaps,  did  not  exceed  sixty- 
five  or  seventy.  A  few  of  these  were  manifestly  parties 
desiring  to  shirk  military  service  ;  yet  the  great  majority 
was  composed  of  persons  under  the  age  of  conscription 
and  of  persons  who  were  already  far  advanced  in  their 
college  course  and  looked  forward  to  a  speedy  graduation. 

"Again:  there  was  a  change  in  the  complexion  or 
membership  of  the  Faculty.  Professor  Massie  resigned 
to  accept  a  call  to  governmental  work  in  Richmond,  and 
Professor  Turner  was  elected  to  fill  the  Chair  of  Mathe- 
matics. He,  however,  resigned  at  the  close  of  the  half 
session,  and  Professor  Blankenship  was  chosen  as  his 
successor.  Professor  Shepard  resigned,  and  entered 
upon  active  military  service  in  the  field.  No  one  was 
appointed  to  fill  his  place,  as  the  exigencies  of  the  case 
did  not  demand  it. 

' '  Once  more :  the  style  of  the  College  was  changed 
from  a  purely  literary  to  a  semi-military  institution.  A 
regular  uniform  was  prescribed;  drills  were  daily  ob- 
served, and  other  things  of  a  similar  character  were  en- 
joined, all  looking  to  the  preparation  of  the  student  for 
the  duties  that  awaited  him  in  defence  of  his  country. 

' '  The  Commencement  exercises  for  this  year  were  ex- 
ceedingly interesting  and  for  the  times  very  largely  at- 


156    HISTOR  Y  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE. 

tended.  Dr.  James  A.  Duncan  delivered  the  address 
before  the  two  societies.  His  presence  among  the  scenes 
of  his  boyhood  was  a  joy  to  his  old  acquaintances,  and 
his  address  was  highly  appreciated  for  its  worth  and  for 
the  sake  of  the  man  who  delivered  it." 

The  record  of  the  meeting  held  March  9,  1864,  given 
above,  closes  the  official  history  of  the  College  prior  to 
the  surrender. 

We  give  the  names  of  the  trustees  following  those 
who  were  named  in  the  charter  of  February,  1 830,  with 
date  of  their  election  : 

NAME.  STATE.  YEAR. 

NATHANIEL  MASON, Virginia, 1833 

THOMAS  ADAMS, Virginia, 1833 

THOMAS  WILLIAMS, South  Carolina, 1833 

ALEXANDER  SPEAR, Georgia, 1834 

W.  H.  ELLISON, Georgia, 1834 

Rev.  WILLIAM  CAPERS,  ....  South  Carolina, 1834 

Rev.  W.  M.  KENNEDY,   ....  South  Carolina, 1834 

Rev.  W.  M.  WIGHTMAN,    .    .    .  South  Carolina, 1834 

GEORGE  W.  JEFFRIES, North  Carolina, 1834 

BEV.  SYDNOR, Virginia, 1834 

Rev.  I.  A.  FEW, Georgia 1834 

Rev.  LOVICK  PIERCE, Georgia, 1835 

SEABORN  JONES Georgia, 1835 

J.  C.  POYTHRESS, Georgia, 1835 

Rev.  JAMES  McAoEN, Virginia, 1835 

Rev.  ABRAM  PENN, Virginia, 1835 

WILLIS  LEA, Virginia, 1835 

Bishop  J.  O.  ANDREW,  ....  Georgia,     .........  1835 

HUGH  A.  GARLAND, Virginia, 1835 

Rev.  STEPHEN  OLIN,    .    .    .    .    .  Virginia, 1835 

HORACE  PALMER, Virginia, 1837 

Rev.  JAMES  JAMEISON,    ....  North  Carolina, 1837 

Rev.  B.  T.  BLAKE, North  Carolina, 1837 

M.  M.  McPHERsoN, Georgia, 1838 

THOMAS  W.  WILLIAMS,  ...    .  South  Carolina,  ......  1838 


HISTOR  Y  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE.    157 

NAME.                                                        STATE.  YEAR. 

S.  K.  HODGES South  Carolina, 1838 

L.  C.  GARLAND, Virginia, 1840 

D'ARCY  PAUL, Virginia, 1840 

A.  A.  CAMPBELL, Virginia, 1840 

Rev.  D.  S.  DOGGETT, Virginia, •    •    .    .  1841 

Rev.  A.  M.  FORSTER South  Carolina, 1841 

Rev.  HENRY  B.  COWLES,    .    .    .  Virginia, 1842 

GEORGE  ROGERS, Virginia, 1842 

EDWARD  R.  CHAMBERS,  ....  Virginia, 1842 

WILLIAM  TOWNES, Virginia, 1844 

WESLEY  YOUNG, North  Carolina, 1845 

Rev.  R.  O.  BURTON,   .....  North  Carolina, 1845 

Rev.  WILLIAM  B.  ROWZIE,    .    .  Virginia, 1845 

ELLIS  MALONE, North  Carolina, 1846 

THOMAS  BRANCH, Virginia 1846 

Rev.  L.  M.  LEE, Virginia, 1846 

THOMAS  W.  HARRIS, North  Carolina, 1846 

RICHARD  B.  BAPTIST, Virginia,    . 1846 

CHARLES  R.  EATON, North  Carolina, 1848 

MASON  L.  WIGGINS, North  Carolina, 1848 

CHARLES  S.  HUTCHESON,    .    .    .  Virginia, 1848 

WILLIAM  IRBY, Virginia, 1848 

JAMES  J.  DALY, Virginia, 1848 

Rev.  R.  I.  CARSON, North  Carolina, 1848 

Rev.  JAMES  REID, North  Carolina, 1848 

G.  W.  S.  PARHAM, Virginia 1848 

GEORGE  WILSON, Virginia, 1848 

GEORGE  D.  BASKERVILLE,  .    .    .  North  Carolina, 1848 

Rev.  ANTHONY  DIBRELL,  .    .    .  Virginia 1849 

Rev.  WILLIAM  CLOSS, North  Carolina, 1852 

Rev.  THOMAS  S.  CAMPBELL,  .    .  North  Carolina, 1854 

THOMAS  H.  CAMPBELL,   ....  Virginia, 1854 

RICHARD  IRBY, Virginia, 1854 

CHARLES  SKINNER, North  Carolina, 1854 

Rev.  GEORGE  W.  NOLLEY,  .  .    .  Virginia, 1855 

JOHN  G.  BOYD, Virginia, 1855 

Rev.  LEO  ROSSER, Virginia, 1855 

Rev.  J.  P.  MOORE, North  Carolina, 1855 

Rev.  R.  E.  G.  ADAMS,    ....  Virginia, 1855 

Rev.  P.  W.  ARCHER, Virginia, 1855 


158    HISTOR  Y  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE. 

NAME.  STATE.  YEAR. 

Rev.  N.  F.  REID, North  Carolina,  ......  1855 

Rev.  WILLIAM  CARTER,  ....  North  Carolina, 1855 

Rev.  J.  E.  EDWARDS, Virginia, 1857 

N.  MILAM, North  Carolina, 1857 

Rev.  G.  W.  CARTER Virginia, 1858 

RICHARD  M.  SMITH, Virginia, 1858 

Rev.  JOHN  C.  BLACKWELL,    .    .  Virginia, 1858 

THOMAS  P.  JERMAN, North  Carolina, 1858 

LEROY  M.  WILSON, Virginia,    ...••....  1859 

O.  H.  P.  CORPREW,  ......  Virginia, 1859 

WILLIAM  A.  SMITH, Virginia 1860 

W.  T.  SUTHERLIN, Virginia, 1860 

Secretaries  of  the  Board. 

Rev.  WILLIAM  A.  SMITH,  Rev.  HENRY  B.  COWLES, 

Rev.  WILLIAM  M.  WIGHTMAN,      RICHARD  B.  BAPTIST, 
Rev.  JOHN  G.  CLAIBORNE,  RICHARD  IRBY, 

Rev.  EDWARD  WADSWORTH,         WILLIAM  A.  SHEPARD. 

Treasurers. 

JOHN  W.  LEWIS,  DAVID  DUNCAN, 

ALEXANDER  BOYD,  CHARLES  B.  STUART, 

BEVERLY  SYDNOR,  Rev.  WILLIAM  A.  SMITH. 

LANDON  C.  GARLAND, 

Agents. 

Rev.  H.  G.  LEIGH,  Rev.  S.  S.  BRYANT, 

Rev.  WILLIAM  HAMMETT,  Rev.  R.  O.  BURTON, 

Rev.  M.  P.  PARKS,  Rev.  WILLIAM  B.  ROWZIE, 

Rev.  JOHN  EARLY,  Rev.  R.  I.  CARSON, 

Rev.  WILLIAM  A.  SMITH,  Rev.  BENJAMIN  R.  DUVAL, 

Rev.  THOMAS  CROWDER,  Rev.  N.  THOMAS. 

Rev.  JOHN  A.  MILLER,  Rev.  HENRY  B.  COWLES. 

Rev.  JOHN  KERR, 

Rev.  JOHN  EARLY, 

Chairman  Board  of  Trustees,  1831. 

President        "  "          1833  to  1872. 

In  the  body  of  the  history  sufficient  prominence  has 
not  been  given  to  a  number  of  the  Professors  and  Agents. 


HISTOR  Y  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE.    159 

They  in  many  instances  richly  deserved  this  promi- 
nence, but  it  seemed  to  be  impossible  to  get  portraits  of 
them.  A  search  for  some  of  them  for  years  failed  to 
secure  them. 

The  good  work,  as  agents,  of  Rev.  B.  R.  Duval  and 
Rev.  N.  Thomas,  more  particularly  the  former,  deserved 
a  much  more  extended  notice  and  commendation. 

WAR  HISTORY. 

The  war  history  of  the  College  and  its  Professors  and 
sons  is  and  must  remain  very  imperfect.  It  is  impossi- 
ble for  the  writer  to  gather  up  the  scattered  threads  of 
this  history.  No  approximate  estimate  can  be  given  of 
the  number  who  went  into  military  service,  nor  of  the 
casualties  which  befell  them.  That  many  of  them  were 
killed  and  wounded  and  many  died  of  sickness  is  well 
known. 

Six  Randolph-Macon  men  were  enrolled  in  one  com- 
pany, and  the  casualties  which  befell  these  are  here 
given  from  actual  data.  Whether  this  is  a  fair  sample 
of  the  rest  is  not  known  with  certainty.  There  is  no 
reason  why  it  should  not  be  assumed  as  a  fair  average. 

In  Company  G,  Eighteenth  Virginia  Regiment,  Army 
Northern  Virginia,  the  following  casualties  occurred, 
viz. : 

Richard  Irby,  class  of  1844,  first  lieutenant  and  cap- 
tain, wounded  twice  at  Second  Manassas,  1862. 

Samuel  Hardy,  class  of  1846,  first  lieutenant,  lost  an 
arm  and  disabled  at  Games'  Mill,  1862. 

Richard  Ferguson,  class  of  1858,  first  lieutenant  (and 
adjutant  of  the  regiment,  1863),  wounded  at  Games' 
Mill,  Frazier's  Farm,  Second  Manassas,  and  captured  in- 
side the  cemetery  wall  at  Gettysburg ;  in  prison  to  the 
close  of  the  war. 


160   HISTOR  Y  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE. 

Edward  H.  Muse,  class  of  1861,  second  lieutenant, 
wounded  at  Frazier's  farm,  Gettysburg,  and  Sailor's 
Creek. 

Anthony  Dibrell  Crenshaw,  class  of  1858,  third  lieu- 
tenant, killed  at  Five  Forks,  1865,  and  buried  on  the 
field. 

Benjamin  I.  Scott,  class  of  1860,  corporal,  killed  near 
Boonsboro,  Md.,  1862,  and  left  on  the  field. 

The  writer  can  give  the  history  and  portraits  of  these, 
because  he  had  the  honor  to  command  the  company  in 
which  they  served,  and  preserved  their  records  and  por- 
traits. 

The  College  premises  were  occupied  after  the  close  of 
the  war  for  some  time  by  the  Federal  forces.  The  main 
building  was  used  as  headquarters  of  the  Freedman's 
Bureau,  and  the  rooms  filled  with  the  "wards  of  the 
nation. ' '  The  damage  done  to  the  property  was  assessed 
at  about  five  thousand  dollars,  which  is  unpaid  to  this 
day,  and  will  doubtless  so  remain  to  the  end  of  time. 

This  closes  the  ante-bellum  record. 


OFFICERS  COMPANY  G,  EIGHTEENTH  VIRGINIA  REGIMENT. 

No.  i.  Capt.  Richard  Irby.        No.  2.   Lieut.  Richard  Ferguson.        No.  3.   Lieut.  S.  Hardy. 

No.  4.  Lieut.  E.  H.  Muse.     No.  5.   Lieut.  A.  D.  Crenshaw.     No.  6.  Corpl.  B.  I.  Scott. 


INTERLUDE. 


BEFORE  entering  upon  the  subsequent  history  of 
the  College,  this  writer  would  take  this  occasion  to 
refer  to  one  of  many  omissions,  which  he  has  noted 
in  revising  the  pages  already  printed,  a  point  of  special 
interest  and  importance.  This  is  the  religious  element 
in  Randolph- Macon  College. 

The  College  was  the  child  of  the  Methodist  Church, 
established,  in  large  measure,  to  educate  young  men  for 
the  ministry  in  accordance  with  the  ideas  and  usages  of 
the  church  of  that  day.  Religion  was  the  first  and  fore- 
most consideration — religion  as  taught  and  emphasized 
by  the  Methodist  Church — religion  allied  with  education. 

At  the  first  opening  of  the  College  a  chaplain  was  ap- 
pointed for  it  by  the  Conference,  a  man  who  was  as 
complete  a  model  of  the  Methodist  minister  as  could  be 
found,  William  B.  Rowzie,  a  walking,  living  epistle  of 
Christ,  "known  and  read  of  all  men."  One  better  than 
he  could  not  have  been  found  to  inaugurate  the  religious 
life  of  the  College. 

Never  in  the  history  of  the  church  in  Virginia  has 
Methodism,  in  its  spirit  and  economy,  been  more  thor- 
oughly exemplified  than  it  has  been  at  Randolph-Macon. 
The  morning  and  evening  sacrifice  of  prayer  and  praise 
noted  ever>-  day  of  work.  Preaching  in  the  chapel  was 
had  twice  on  Sabbath  and  prayer  service  was  held  on 
Wednesday  evenings.  Students  were  required  to  attend 
morning  and  evening  prayer  and  Sunday  morning  ser- 
vice. Besides  this,  the  members  of  the  church  were 


1 62    HISTOR  Y  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE. 

organized  into  classes  with  leaders,  according  to  Meth- 
odist usage,  and  class-meetings  were  regularly  held  once 
a  week.  Thus  was  exhibited  a  complete  practical  exam- 
ple of  Methodist  economy  as  prescribed  in  the  Discipline. 
The  result  and  fruit  of  this  work  was  a  high  state  of 
religious  life.  Every  year,  or  oftener,  this  life  took  the 
form  of  great  religious  activity,  and  sweeping  revivals 
occurred,  bringing  well-nigh  all  in  the  College  and  many 
outside  under  spiritual  influence,  and  many  converts 
into  the  church.  There  were  few  years,  if  any,  when 
some  such  revival  did  not  take  place.  Of  many  it  could 
be  said,  "This  and  that  man  was  born  there"  ;  many 
who  not  only  became  Christians  themselves,  but  went 
forth  from  the  College  to  preach  the  gospel  throughout 
the  Southern  land.  Many  here  were  drilled  in  Methodist 
usages,  and  thus  prepared  to  become  class-leaders,  stew- 
ards and  Sunday-school  teachers  and  superintendents 
after  they  left  College.  A  large  proportion  of  these 
became  presidents  of  colleges  and  principals  of  high 
schools  and  academies,  in  which  they  inaugurated  the 
same  system  of  "religion  in  earnest."  These  schools 
shared  the  same  benign  and  gracious  influences,  and  in 
turn  became  "fountains  in  the  desert,"  from  whence 
' '  streams  broke  out, ' '  reaching  even  to  the  ends  of  the 
earth,  "making  glad  the  city  of  our  God,"  and  causing 
"the  wilderness  to  bloom  and  blossom  as  the  rose." 

It  may  be  thought  strange  that  fathers  belonging  to 
other  churches  and  others  not  religious  were  ever  found 
sending  their  sons  to  a  college  which  was  thus  permeated 
with  religious  life  as  taught  and  practiced  by  Methodists. 
But  in  many  cases  they  did  send  them. 

This  writer,  whose  acquaintance  with  the  College  ex- 
tends over  a  period  of  nearly  sixty  years,  makes  bold  to 
say  that  he  has  never  known  a  student  to  change  his 


HISTOR  Y  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE.    163 

church  membership  during  all  that  time  and  become  a 
Methodist.  He  has  known  class-leaders  who  had  been 
at  home  Presbyterians  and  Episcopalians,  but  after  leav- 
ing College  they  resumed  their  work  in  their  fathers' 
churches,  none  the  worse  for  having  for  a  time  worked 
in  "Methodist  traces." 

As  to  calculating  the  ultimate  effects  of  all  these  causes 
and  influences  in  time  and  eternity,  it  were  as  vain  to 
try  to  calculate  or  measure  them  as  it  would  be 

"To  bind  the  sweet  influences  of  the  Pleiades, 
Or  loose  the  bands  of  Orion." 


COLLEGE   HISTORY  AFTER  THE  WAR. 


THE  period  immediately  succeeding  the  surrender  of 
the  Confederate  army. at  Appomatox  was  one  of 
the  darkest  and  most  discouraging  that  any  civilized 
people  was  ever  called  to  face.  Virginia  had  been  for 
four  years  the  battle-ground  over  which  great  armies 
had  marched  and  counter-marched  and  fought.  Every 
home  had  felt  the  torture  that  "tried  men's  souls." 
Widows  gathered  their  fatherless  children  around  them 
to  share  the  last  crust  of  bread  together,  not  knowing 
whether  even  that  much  could  be  found  to-morrow. 
For  miles  along  the  highways  over  which  the  armies 
had  marched,  the  bare  chimneys  only,  marked  the  sites 
where  comfortable  houses  had  sheltered  happy  house- 
holds. The  farmer  had  his  land  left — that  could  not  be 
carried  away ;  but  few  had  any  teams  to  break  the 
ground,  and  many  had  not  the  seed  needed  to  sow  the 
fields.  The  last  cow  was  in  many  cases  driven  away  or 
killed.  A  noted  Federal  general  had  boastfully  reported 
to  the  general-in-chief  that  so  completely  had  he  devas- 
tated the  fairest  and  most  fertile  section  of  the  State  that 
a  crow  could  not  travel  over  it  without  carrying  his 
rations  with  him. 

Richmond,  the  capital  city,  after  withstanding  two 
sieges  successfully,  had  been,  in  large  part,  made  a  bank 
of  ashes.  Petersburg,  beleaguered  so  long,  was  a  scarred 
and  battered  wreck.  Fredericksburg,  Winchester,  Nor- 
folk, and  many  other  towns,  were  little  better  off.  Some 
of  the  railroads  were  stripped  of  their  rails — all  of  them 
in  bad  plight  and  almost  without  any  equipment  for 


HfSTOR  Y  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE.    165 

business,  if  any  business  were  to  be  found.  The  labor 
system,  which  had  for  centuries  been  used  to  cultivate 
the  land  and  gather  the  crops,  had  been  at  one  stroke 
subverted,  and  virtually  destroyed.  None  had  been 
found  for  months  afterward  to  take  its  place.  With  the 
people  at  large  it  was  a  struggle  for  existence  and  a  fight 
with  famine. 

One  of  the  saddest  scenes  this  writer  ever  witnessed 
was  at  Nottoway  courthouse.  A  few  days  after  the 
surrender  at  Appomattoax,  he  was  summoned  with  other 
citizens  of  the  county  to  attend  a  meeting  called  to  con- 
fer with  the  military  officers  as  to  the  best  plans  to  be 
devised  to  prevent  suffering  among  the  people.  Just  as 
he  entered  the  courthouse,  where  a  number  of  people 
were  assembled,  he  saw  a  venerable  man  of  more  than 
three-score  years  and  ten  standing  before  the  officer,  with 
tears  streaming  down  his  furrowed  cheeks,  and  heard 
him  say:  "Every  scrap  of  meat,  every  grain  of  corn, 
everything  in  the  way  of  food  I  had,  has  been  taken 
from  me.  I  know  not  where  I  shall  get  my  meat  or 
bread  to-morrow."  This  man  had  been  for  many  years 
one  of  the  foremost  men  in  the  county,  a  Senator  in  the 
General  Assembly  of  Virginia,  and  for  many  years  a 
Trustee  of  Randolph-Macon  College. 

But  poverty  and  penury  were  not  all.  The  people 
were  humiliated  and  despondent.  Their  State,  "the 
mother  of  States  and  statesmen,"  had  now  the  tyrant's 
heel  upon  her  neck,  and  was  styled  "District"  (No.  i), 
a  "conquered  province" — her  governor,  first  a  refugee, 
then  a  prisoner.  Military  satraps  filled  the  seats  of 
judges  and  magistrates.  The  ignorant  slave  was  often 
shown  more  deference  than  his  former  cultured  master. 
Most  of  the  flower  of  the  manhood  of  the  State  had  died 
by  the  sword  or  disease.  The  boys  and  girls  of  the  next 


1 66    HISTORY  OF  RANDOLP  H-MACON  COLLEGE. 

generation  were  growing  up  without  the  means  of  edu- 
cation, and  helping  to  eak  out  a  living  for  their  widowed 
mothers. 

Such,  in  brief,  was  the  condition  of  Virginia  in  the 
period  succeeding  the  close  of  the  war. 

What  could  the  Trustees  of  the  College  do  under  such 
circumstances  as  now  surrounded  them?  The  endow- 
ment gathered  at  such  an  expenditure  of  time  and  labor 
was  in  large  part  lost.  The  investments  made  were  in 
bonds  and  stocks  of  more  than  uncertain  value,  some  not 
worth  the  paper  on  which  they  were  printed.  The  Col- 
lege buildings,  libraries  and  laboratories  had  all  been 
impaired  and  damaged  by  non-use  or  abuse.  There  was 
no  money  in  hand  to  repair  and  refit  them.  Our  own 
people  were  too  poor  to  furnish  it.  Those  who  had  de- 
vastated the  property,  and  added  injury  to  insult,  could 
not  be  expected  to  restore  what  they  had  destroyed. 

Nevertheless,  it  had  been  but  a  few  months  after  the 
surrender  before  a  meeting  of  the  Board  was  called  to 
be  held  in  Petersburg,  August  23,  1865. 

At  this  meeting  a  quorum  was  lacking,  and  the  Board 
adjourned  to  meet  on  September  13  following,  at  the  resi- 
dence of  Richard  Irby,  in  Nottoway.  This  adjourned 
meeting  was  held,  and  a  quorum  was  present. 

One  of  the  first  matters  attended  to  was  the  appoint- 
ment of  a  committee  consisting  of  President  W.  A.  Smith 
and  four  others  "  to  estimate  the  damage  to  the  College  in- 
curred by  the  occupation  of  it  by  the  United  States  troops 
after  the  surrender,  and  in  behalf  of  the  Trustees  to  make' 
application  to  the  proper  authorities  of  the  government 
for  payment." 

On  motion  of  D'Arcy  Paul  it  was — 

Resolved,  That  all  the  Professor's  chairs  be  declared 
vacant. 


HIST  OR  Y  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE.    167 

A  provisional  arrangement  was  made  to  open  the  Col- 
lege for  school  purposes,  but  this  arrangement  was  not 
carried  out. 

A  further  plan  was  provided  for  taking  care  of  the 
College  property,  and  the  Board  adjourned. 

The  next  meeting  of  the  Board  was  held  at  the  Col- 
lege July  1  1,  1866,  with  eighteen  members  in  attendance. 
The  chairman  of  the  committee  appointed  at  the  last 
meeting  to  assess  and  press  claim  for  damages  to  College, 
reported  that  the  committee  had  not  been  encouraged  in 
their  efforts  by  the  military  authorities  in  Virginia. 

Judge  E.  R.  Chambers  was  appointed  to  prosecute  the 
claim. 

It  may  save  time  here  to  say,  as  has  been  said  before, 
that  this  claim  was  never  recognized  by  the  government. 

The  Finance  Committee  made  a  report  of  the  Endow- 
ment fund  and  liabilities  of  the  College  : 

Bonds  of  the  city  of  Petersburg  and  interest,  ......  $19,000 

Bonds  of  the  State  of  Virginia  ..............       3,000 

(Classed  available),   ................  $22,000 

Bonds  Southside  Railroad  Company,  guaranteed 
by  city  of  Petersburg,    ............  $15,800 

Stock  Petersburg  Railroad  Company,  ......       8,000 

--  —   23,800 

$45,  Sco 


Private  or  personal  Endowment  bonds,     ........  $24,900 

Legacy  of  W.  B.  Jones,  ................          500 

$25,400 

Confederate  bonds,   ..................  $37,000 

Confederate  currency,  .................       7,536 

$44.536 

Leaving  out  the  Confederate  bonds,  which  were  worth- 

less, the  balance  of  available  and  possible  assets  were    $71,200 
Liabilities  as  far  as  known,    ..............       8,854 

Net  assets,  ............  '  .    .    ......  *62,346 


i68    HISTOR  Y  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE. 

This,  under  all  the  circumstances,  might  be  consid- 
ered a  favorable  showing,  and  the  credit  of  it  is  due  to 
the  faithful  Investing  Agent,  who  also  showed  his  skill 
and  faithfulness  by  bringing  through  the  war  the  '"'  Sav- 
ings and  Insurance  Company,"  of  which  he  was  presi- 
dent, free  from  wreck. 

The  resolution  of  the  Virginia  Conference  in  regard  to 
the  removal  of  the  College  had  been  allowed  to  sleep 
since  the  committee's  report,  in  March,  1864.  It  was 
again  brought  forward  by  the  following  resolution, 
offered  by  Richard  M.  Smith,  Esq. : 

"  Resolved,  That  a  committee  of  -  —  be  appointed  to 
ascertain  what  accommodations  and  on  what  terms  and 
what  inducements  generally  can  be  obtained  for  trans- 
ferring Randolph -M  aeon  College  to  Petersburg,  Rich- 
mond, Lynchburg,  or  any  other  place,  and  also  the 
earliest  day  at  which  accommodations  can  be  at  com- 
mand, and  report  to  an  adjourned  meeting  of  this  Board." 

This  resolution  was  defeated  by  a  vote  of  12  to  6. 

The  following,  offered  by  Judge  E.  R.  Chambers,  was 
then  adopted : 

"Resolved,  That  it  is  inexpedient  and  injudicious  to 
change  the  location  of  the  College." 

The  ayes  and  noes  on  this  were  recorded,  as  follows : 

Ayes. — William  Townes,  Sr.,  C.  S.  Hutcheson,  W.  B.  Rowzie, 
William  Townes,  Jr.,  William  Carter,  T.  P.  Jerman,  R.  B.  Bap- 
tist, N.  Head.  J.  P.  Moore,  O.  H.  P.  Corprew,  N.  Alexander, 
E.  R.  Chambers,  L.  M.  Wilson — 13. 

Noes.— Richard  Irby,  D.  S.  Doggett,  R.  M.  Smith,  J.  C. 
Granbery,  T.  S.  Campbell,  J.  C.  Blackwell— 6. 

Dr.  W.  A.  Smith,  at  his  own  request,  was  excused 
from  voting. 

It  was  resolved  to  take  steps  to  re-open  the  College  as 
soon  as  practicable. 


HISTOR  Y  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE.    169 

The  degree  of  A.  M.  was  conferred,  under  the  law,  on 
the  following:  Leroy  S.  Edwards,  Thomas  J.  Overby, 
and  J.  Davidson  Blackwell,  A.  B.'s  of  former  years. 

Dr.  William  A.  Smith  tendered  his  resignation  as 
President  of  the  College,  to  take  effect  at  once.  The 
resignation  was  accepted  by  the  Board,  and  resolutions 
were  adopted  expressing  the  high  appreciation  of  him 
and  his  work,  which  had  extended  over  a  period  of 
nearly  twenty  years. 

The  Board  resolved  to  adjourn  to  meet  again  on  the 
1 8th  of  August  following  to  elect  a  president  and  three 
professors.  The  salaries  of  these  were  fixed — Guaran- 
teed, to  the  President,  $1,000;  to  the  professors,  $750 
each,  and,  in  addition,  the  tuition  fees  of  the  students  in 
attendance. 

At  the  adjourned  meeting,  August  15,  1866,  the  fol- 
lowing elections  were  made : 

RICHARD  W.  JONES,  A.  M.,  Professor  of  Mathematics. 
O.  H.  P.  CORPREW,  A.  M.,  Professor  of  Ancient  Languages. 
Rev.  JOHN  C.  BLACKWELL,  A.  M.,  D.  D.,   Professor  of  Chem- 
istry. 
ERNEST  LA  GARDE,  Professor  of  Modern  Languages. 

The  election  of  a  President  was  postponed  to  an  ad- 
journed meeting,  and  Dr.  John  C.  Blackwell  was  ap- 
pointed to  act  as  President  until  a  president  should  be 
elected. 

At  an  adjourned  meeting  held  October  16,  1866,  on 
the  nomination  of  William  Townes,  Sr.,  Col.  Thomas 
Carter  Johnson,  A.  M.  (Class  1842),  was  elected  Presi- 
dent and  Professor  of  Moral  Philosophy. 

The  Board  then  adjourned  to  meet  at  the  session  of 
the  Virginia  Annual  Conference,  November  22,  1866. 

Colonel  Johnson  was  then  a  citizen  of  Montgomery, 
Ala.,  practicing  law.  He  accepted  the  office  tendered, 


iyo    HISTOR  Y  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE. 

but  did  not  take  the  position  until  near  the  close  of  the 
year. 

At  the  adjourned  meeting  held  at  Norfolk,  November 
22,  1866,  the  Board,  on  motion  of  Dr.  William  A.  Smith, 
resolved  to  establish  "The  School  of  Commercial  Sci- 
ence" in  the  College.  This  was  never  done. 

At  this  meeting  a  representative  from  Ashland,  Han- 
over county,  Va.,  presented  a  communication  from  owners 
of  property  in  that  town  offering  to  sell  certain  property 
in  case  the  Board  should  determine  to  move  the  College. 

A  committee,  consisting  of  D' Arcy  Paul,  R.  M.  Smith 
and  D.  S.  Doggett,  were  appointed  to  investigate  and 
report  in  regard  to  the  matter. 

At  the  adjourned  meeting  in  December,  held  at  the 
College,  President-elect  Johnson  appeared  before  the 
Board  and  was  formally  inducted  into  office.  He  was 
requested  to  visit  the  Baltimore  Conference  of  the  Meth- 
odist Episcopal  Church,  South,  which  had  recently  ad- 
hered to  the  Southern  Church,  and  endeavor  to  secure 
the  patronage  and  co-operation  of  that  Conference ;  also, 
to  visit  Baltimore  and  other  cities  with  a  view  to  secur- 
ing financial  help  for  the  College. 

An  overture  was  also  made  to  the  North  Carolina  Con- 
ference with  a  view  to  the  restoration  of  former  relations 
and  the  securing  of  its  patronage. 

President  Johnson  subsequently  reported  the  result  of 
h'is  visit  to  the  Baltimore  Conference,  and  submitted  the 
action  of  that  body,  which  was  as  follows : 

"  BALTIMORE  CONFERENCE,  M.  E.  CHURCH,  SOUTH. 
"  REPORT  OF  COMMITTEE  ON  COLLEGES. 
"The  Committee  on  Colleges  submit  the  following  re- 
port: 

"Resolved,  i.   That  the  Conference  accepts  the  propo- 


PKES.  THOS.  CARTER  JOHNSON,  i866-'68. 


HISTORY  C  F  RANDOLPH-MACOP      OLLEGE.     171 

sition  of  the  Bo.  rd  of  Trustees  of  Randc  ph-Macon  Col- 
lege to  give  its  patronage  to  said  institu  )ti  and  to  par- 
ticipate equally  with  the  other  patronizing  Conferences 
in  its  government  and  privileges,  and  we  hereby  nomi- 
nate four  suitable  persons  to  be  elected  Trustees  from 
this  Conference  to  represent  our  interests  on  said  Board. 

"Resolved,  2.  That  when  a  Trustee  shall  locate,  it 
shall  be  his  duty  to  resign. 

' '  Resolved,  3 .  That  we  will  give  the  full  weight  of  our 
influence  in  extending  the  patronage  of  Randolph -Ma- 
con  College. 

"(Signed)          S.  S.  ROSZEL,  Chairman." 

These  resolutions  were  adopted  by  the  Conference 
March,  1867. 

On  the  recommendation  of  the  Baltimore  Conference 
the  following  gentlemen  were  elected  Trustees  of  Ran- 
dolph-Macon  College,  viz. :  Rev.  S.  S.  Roszel,  Rev.  John 
Poisal,  Rev.  S.  S.  Register,  and  Rev.  John  Landstreet. 

At  the  first  annual  meeting  of  the  Trustees  held  at  the 
College,  June  25,  1867,  after  President  Johnson  had  as- 
sumed control,  eleven  Trustees  were  in  attendance. 

Ex-President  W.  A.  Smith  had  gone  to  Central  Col- 
lege, Fayette,  Missouri,  of  which  he  had  been  elected 
President. 

The  President's  report  stated  that  the  attendance  for 
the  session  of  1866-' 67  had  been  in  all  forty-five  stu- 
dents ;  a  large  proportion  of  them  were  on  scholarships. 
The  net  receipts  from  fees  were  necessarily  very  small. 

The  degree  of  D.  D.  was  conferred  on  the  following: 
Rev.  Nelson  Head,  Rev.  John  E.  Edwards,  and  Rev. 
W.  W.  Bennett,  of  the  Virginia  Conference ;  Rev.  Samuel 
S.  Register,  Rev.  S.  S.  Roszel,  Rev.  John  Poisal,  and 
Rev.  John  S.  Martin,  of  the  Baltimore  Conference; 


172    HISTOR  Y  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE. 

Bishop  Enoch  M.  Marvin,  of  the  M.  E.  Church,  South, 
and  Rev.  Smith  W.  Moore,  of  the  Tennessee  Conference. 

The  degree  of  LL.  D.  was  conferred  on  Bishop  George 
F.  Pierce,  M.  E.  Church,  South,  and  Hon.  James  F. 
Dowdell  and  William  F.  Samford,  of  Alabama. 

The  degree  of  A.  M.  was  conferred  on  Thomas  J. 
Jarvis,  of  North  Carolina  (class  of  1860). 

REMOVAL  OF  THE  COLLEGE. 

The  College  year,  1867-68,  was  not  a  prosperous  one. 
The  financial  condition  of  the  country  was  anything  but 
favorable  to  a  successful  year.  The  dissatisfaction  with 
the  location  of  the  College  had  been  increasing  since  1863. 
At  the  annual  meeting  in  1868  it  was  to  culminate.  The 
President  had  become  convinced  that  something  must  be 
done  or  the  College  would  have  to  close  its  doors.  Some 
who  had  opposed  removal  heretofore  now  favored  it. 

In  the  notice  for  the  meeting  a  special  request  was 
made  for  a  full  meeting,  and  the  object  was  generally 
understood.  The  meeting  commenced  its  session  June 
24,  1868.  There  were  present  the  following:  Revs. 
James  Jamieson,  H.  B.  Cowles,  Robert  O.  Burton,  W.  B. 
Rowzie,  L.  M.  Lee,  T.  S.  Campbell,  Geo.  W.  Nolley,  L. 
Rosser,  J.  P.  Moore,  Wm.  Carter,  John  E.  Edwards,  J. 
C.  Blackwell,  Nelson  Head,  J.  C.  Granbery,  John  Land- 
street,  and  Messrs.  N.  Alexander,  D.  Paul,  E.  R.  Cham- 
bers, Wm.  Townes,  Sr.,  Thos.  Branch,  R.  B.  Baptist,  J. 
J.  Daly,  R.  Irby,  R.  M.  Smith,  T.  P.  Jerman,  T.  M. 
Jones,  T.  C.  Johnson,  C.  S.  Hutcheson,  W.  Townes,  Jr., 
and  O.  H.  P.  Corprew — thirty  in  all. 

President  T.  C.  Johnson  presided,  and  Professor  Cor- 
prew was  secretary.  The  feeling  prevailed  generally 
that  this  meeting  would  decide  the  question  of  removal. 
There  was  early  skirmishing  by  the  opposing  sides,  and 


HISTOR  Y  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE.    173 

it  was  some  time  before  the  decisive  vote  was  reached 
and  taken. 

Finally,  the  motion  of  Dr.  J.  E.  Edwards,  which  was 
as  follows : 

' '  Resolved,  That  in  the  judgment  of  the  Board  of  Trus- 
tees for  the  greater  prosperity  of  the  institution,  Ran- 
dolph-Macon  College  should  be  removed  from  its  present 
to  a  more  accessible  and  eligible  location  " — was  adopted 
by  the  following  vote : 


REV.   JOHN   ELLIS  EDWARDS,   A.   M.,   D.    I)., 
I'irginia  Conference,  M.  K.  Church, South. 

Ayes. — Paul,  Cowles,  Burton,  Rowzie,  Branch,  Lee,  T.  S. 
Campbell,  Irby,  Nolley,  Rosser,  Edwards,  R.  M.  Smith,  Jer- 
man,  Blackwell,  Head,  Granbery,  Jones,  Johnson,  and  Land- 
street — 19. 

Noes. — Alexander,  Chambers,  Townes,  Sr.,  Baptist,  Daly, 
Moore,  Carter,  Townes,  Jr.,  and  Corprew — 9. 


174    HISTORY  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE. 

On  motion  of  D' Arcy  Paul,  the  Board  took  steps  to  secure 
the  authority  of  the  constituted  authorities  for  the  neces- 
sary change  of  the  charter,  so  as  to  allow  the  change  of 
location. 

On  motion  of  Dr.  J.  E.  Edwards  it  was — 

"Resolved,  That  so  soon  as  the  gentlemen  (Messrs. 
Branch,  Irby,  Snyder  and  Watts)  who  have  purchased 
the  property  and  premises  at  Ashland  are  prepared  to 
make  a  tender  of  the  same  to  the  Trustees  for  the  use  of 
Randolph- Macon  College,  free  from  any  encumbrance  as 
to  title,  and  so  soon  as  the  legal  authority  is  secured  for 
the  transfer  of  the  institution,  the  Trustees  bind  and 
pledge  themselves  to  make  the  transfer  and  removal  to 
Ashland;  and  also  pledge  themselves  further  to  open 
the  next  session  of  the  College  exercises  at  that  place ; 
provided  the  above-named  conditions  are  complied  with 
in  time  to  enable  the  Trustees  to  carry  out  this  pledge." 

A  committee,  consisting  of  D.  Paul,  R.  M.  Smith,  Drs. 
L.  M.  Lee,  J.  E.  Edwards  and  N.  Head,  were  appointed  to 
secure  the  legal  authority  to  remove  the  College  to  Ash- 
land, and  to  secure  proper  title  to  the  property  to  be  used 
for  the  location  of  the  College. 

The  President  was  authorized  to  employ  an  Agent  to 
have  the  furniture,  libraries,  apparatus,  etc.,  removed  to 
Ashland. 

Thus  ended  the  struggle  in  regard  to  moving  the  Col- 
lege. The  majority,  while  taking  this  step,  which  they 
deemed  absolutely  necessary  in  order  to  carry  out  the 
object  sought  in  the  establishment  of  the  College,  took  it 
with  the  greatest  reluctance.  They  could  not  grieve  so 
generous  a  people  as  those  living  in  the  vicinity  of  the 
College  without  feelings  of  the  utmost  regret  and  pain. 

The  minority  could  not  see  what  had  been  the  pride  of 
the  community  and  section  taken  away,  without  feelings 


HISTOR  Y  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE.    175 

of  sorrow.  Many  of  them  had  for  many  years  been  the 
strongest  and  warmest  friends  of  the  College,  and  had 
often  manifested  their  friendship  by  generous  acts  and 
steadfast  devotion  to  it  in  adversity  and  prosperity. 

After  transacting  a  few  items  of  business,  one  of  which 
was  the  conferring  the  degree  of  D.  D.  on  Rev.  Robert 
S.  Moran,  of  the  North  Carolina  Conference,  the  Board 
adjourned  to  meet  again  in  Centenary  Church,  Rich- 
mond, Va.,  July  29,  1868. 

After  the  adjournment  of  the  Board  the  opponents  to 
the  removal  of  the  College  sued  out  an  injunction  re- 
straining the  Board  from  taking  the  step  contemplated.. 

When  the  adjourned  meeting  of  the  Board  assembled 
in  Centenary  Church,  Richmond,  July  29,  1868,  this 
action  was  reported,  "whereupon  a  motion  was  adopted 
to  appoint  a  committee  to  wait  on  General  Stoneman,  in 
charge  of  the  District." 

This  committee  addressed  the  following  communica- 
tion to  General  Stoneman : 

"RICHMOND,  VA.,  July  29,  1868. 
"Major-Gen.  Stoneman,  Commanding  General  District  No.  i : 

"SiR, — We  are  instructed  by  the  Trustees  of  Ran- 
dolph-Macon  College,  now  in  adjourned  session  in  this 
city,  to  acknowledge  the  receipt  of  your  letter  of  the  8th 
instant,  addressed  to  a  previous  committee  of  this  Board, 
touching  the  interests  of  the  College  under  their  man- 
agement. 

' '  Since  the  communication  on  behalf  of  the  Trustees, 
to  which  your  letter  of  the  8th  instant  was  in  reply,  a 
contingency  then  contemplated  has  arrived.  A  minority 
of  the  Trustees  have  sued  out  an  injunction  restraining 
the  Board  from  making  the  contemplated  removal  of  the 
College,  the  writ  being  returnable  on  the  first  Monday 
in  August  at  Charlotte  Courthouse  for  hearing  before 
Judge  Marshall.  We  are  advised  that  the  suit  will 


176    HISTOR  Y  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE. 

prove  very  tedious  as  well  as  very  expensive,  and  will 
thus  operate  very  disadvantageously  to  the  interests  of 
the  College  whatever  the  decision.  We  therefore  add  to 
the  former  application  made  to  you  in  behalf  of  the  Trus- 
tees, that  you  will  issue  an  order  protecting  us,  both 
from  obstruction  and  from  delay,  through  these  appeals 
to  the  courts,  until  such  time  as  the  legislative  authority 
of  the  State,  of  which  you  are  at  present  the  sole  repre- 
sentative, shall  be  regularly  organized  and  open  to  the 
application  usual  in  such  cases. 

"Very  respectfully  yours, 
(Signed)  "  J.  EARLY,  ETC.,  ETC., 

"  Committee.'" 

To  this  communication  General  Stoneman  submitted 
the  following  reply : 

"HEADQUARTERS  FIRST  MILITARY  DISTRICT, 

"RICHMOND,  VA.,  fuly  29,  1868. 

"GENTLEMEN:  I  am  directed  by  the  commanding 
General  to  acknowledge  the  receipt  of  your  letter  of  this 
date  in  relation  to  the  subject  of  the  removal  of  Ran- 
dolph-Macon  College,  and  in  reply  thereto,  to  inform  you 
that  authority  is  hereby  given  to  the  Trustees  of  that 
College  to  remove  that  institution,  with  all  the  appur- 
tenances and  fixtures  thereunto  belonging,  to  such  place 
and  at  such  time  as  the  majority  of  the  Trustees  may 
think  proper,  this  removal  to  be  subject  to  the  conditions 
set  forth  in  a  former  letter  from  these  headquarters, 
dated  the  8th  instant.* 

"I  am,  gentlemen,  very  respectfully, 

(Signed)  "S.  F.  CHALFIN, 

"Assistant  Adjutant- General. 

'  To  Messrs.  John  Early,  D.  S.  Doggett,  Richard  Irby,  R.  M. 
Smith,  and  others,  Committee  of  the  Trustees  of  Randolph- 
Mac  on  College." 

*This  letter  is  not  found  in  the  record. 


HISTOR  Y  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE.    177 

The  owners  of  the  property  at  Ashland,  who  had  pur- 
chased the  same  for  the  Trustees,  submitted  the  con- 
ditions on  which  they  proposed  to  turn  it  over  to  the 
Trustees,  and  the  same  were,  on  motion,  accepted.  This 
property  embraced  all  the  buildings  then  standing  on  the 
thirteen  acres,  now  constituting  the  campus  of  the  Col- 
lege at  Ashland,  with  some  other  lots  adjacent.  Thus 
the  location  was  provided  for  the  College  with  accom- 
modations for  professors  and  students,  and  the  way  was 
cleared  for  the  removal  of  the  College  to  it. 

At  this  juncture  President  Johnson  submitted  the  fol- 
lowing communication : 

"RICHMOND,  V  A..,  July  30,  1868. 

' '  Gentlemen  of  the  Board  of  Trustees  of  Randolph-Macon  Col- 
lege : 

' '  The  experiment  upon  which  you  are  about  to  enter, 
with  my  aid  and  approbation,  seems  to  me  to  demand 
that  you  should  have  the  widest  field  for  the  choice  of  a 
man  to  fill  the  position  I  now  hold.  The  general  trou- 
bled condition  of  the  country,  excluding  many  distin- 
guished men  from  the  arena  of  politics,  in  which  the 
talent  of  Virginia  and  the  South  has  heretofore  been 
employed,  and  also  the  returning  to  this  State  of  many 
unemployed  scholars  and  literary  men,  affords  you  a 
wide  field  of  selection  for  this  purpose.  I  feel  that  in 
your  straitened  condition,  having  to  make  a  new  appeal 
for  students  and  for  friends  to  re-endow  your  College, 
you  are  entitled  to  every  possible  advantage  in  your 
arduous  undertaking.  A  son  of  the  College,  I  love  her 
too  well,  and  the  church  which  has  founded  and  sup- 
ported her  in  the  past,  to  stand  in  the  way  of  any  possible 
effort  that  may  give  prestige  to  your  labors  to  put  her 
once  more  on  the  high  road  to  prosperity. 

"With  this  view  and   the   kindest   wishes  to  every 

12 


178    HISTOR  Y  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE. 

member  of  the  Board,  I  hereby  resign  the  presidency  of 
the  College. 

"Very  truly,  your  obedient  servant, 

(Signed)  "THOMAS  C.  JOHNSON." 

On  motion  of  Rev.  J.  C.  Granbery,  the  following  reso- 
lution was  unanimously  adopted: 

"Resolved,  That  in  accepting  the  resignation  of  Presi- 
dent Johnson  it  is  due  to  ourselves  as  well  as  to  him  that 
we  express  the  high  esteem  which  we  feel  for  him  as  a 
Christian  gentleman  and  our  admiration  of  the  great  zeal 
and  fidelity  with  which  he  has  discharged  the  duties  of 
his  office  at  a  most  critical  and  embarrassing  juncture 
in  the  history  of  the  College,  also  our  warm  appreciation 
of  the  disinterested  and  generous  motives  which  have 
prompted  him  to  tender  his  resignation." 

On  motion  of  Dr.  N.  Head — 

"  Resolved,  That  in  the  absence  of  a  Legislature  having 
obtained  authority  from  General  Stoneman  to  do  so,  the 
College  be  removed  from  Mecklenburg  county  to  Ash- 
land, in  Hanover  county,  Va.,  and  that  a  session  of  the 
College  be  opened  at  that  place  on  the  first  day  of  Octo- 
ber next. 

"Resolved,  That  in  deciding  to  change  the  site  of 
Randolph- Macon  College  this  Board  has  been  actuated 
only  by  the  solemn  conviction  that  it  was  imperatively 
demanded  by  the  educational  interests  of  the  church  and 
community  at  large,  and  that  the  opposition  which  has 
been  offered  to  this  action  by  a  minority  of  the  Trustees 
is  deeply  deplored  by  their  colleagues  of  the  Board,  who 
here  now  and  hereby  respectfully  request  that  those 
members  will  withdraw  that  opposition,  as  injurious  to 
the  interests  dear  alike  to  all,  this  earnest  and  fraternal 
appeal  being  prompted  and  encouraged  by  the  very  high 


HISTOR  V  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE.    179 

esteem  and   respect  entertained   for  the  gentlemen  to 
whom  it  is  addressed  by  their  associates  of  the  Board." 

On  motion  of  Richard  Irby — 

' '  Resolved,  That  this  Board  holds  itself  in  readiness  to 
make  such  arrangements  as  will  secure  to  the  county  of 
Mecklenburg  a  High  School  at  the  present  site  of  Ran- 
dolph-Macon  College  on  terms  such  as  may  be  desired, 
said  school  to  be  a  preparatory  school  to  the  College." 

Preparatory  steps  were  taken  to  have  the  College  fur- 
niture, libraries,  etc.,  removed  at  once  to  Ashland. 

The  Board  then  proceeded  to  fill  the  place  of  Presi- 
dent, vacated  by  the  resignation  of  President  Johnson. 

Dr.  Landon  C.  Garland,  of  the  University  of  Missis- 
sippi, was  unanimously  elected  President. 

A  committee  of  nine  members  was  appointed,  who 
were  authorized,  in  conjunction  with  Dr.  Garland,  to 
elect  the  professors  of  the  College ;  and  in  the  event 
that  Dr.  Garland  declines  to  accept  the  presidency,  then 
said  committee  shall  be  authorized  to  elect  another  man 
to  be  President. 

The  following  were  then,  on  nomination,  elected  to 
constitute  said  committee,  viz. :  Bishop  John  Early, 
Bishop  D.  S.  Doggett,  Drs.  N.  Head,  L.  M.  Lee,  J.  E. 
Edwards,  L.  Rosser,  Rev.  H.  B.  Cowles,  Rev.  J.  C. 
Granbery,  and  Richard  Irby. 

Professors  Corprew,  Jones,  Black  well,  and  La  Garde 
severally  submitted  their  resignations. 

The  duty  of  removing  the  College  and  preparing  the 
buildings  and  premises  at  Ashland,  and  making  other 
necessary  arrangements,  was  devolved  on  the  "  Execu- 
tive Committee,  which  consisted  of  Richard  Irby,  Dr.  N. 
Head,  D'Arcy  Paul,  Thomas  Branch,  and  Rev.  T.  S. 
Campbell. 


iSo    HISTORY  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE. 

THOMAS  CARTER  JOHNSON. 
In  Memoriam. 

Colonel  Thomas  C.  Johnson  was  born  near  Lynch- 
burg,  Va.,  on  the  22nd  of  March,  1820.  He  was  con- 
verted and  joined  the  Methodist  Church  in  his  seven- 
teenth year.  In  1842  he  graduated  with  the  highest 
honors  of  his  class  at  Randolph- Macoii  College.  In  the 
fall  of  the  same  year  he  was  married  to  Martha  R.  Scott, 
daughter  of  H.  B.  Scott,  of  Nelson  county,  Va.,  and  was 
soon  after  appointed  Professor  of  Mathematics  and  Natural 
Sciences  in  the  Female  Collegiate  Institute  in  Bucking- 
ham county.  This  position  he  filled  ten  months,  when  he 
removed  to  Potosi,  Washington  county,  Mo.,  whither  the 
parents  of  his  wife  had  preceded  him.  Here  he  accepted  a 
position  in  a  classical  school,  in  the  meantime  assiduously 
prosecuting  the  study  of  law.  He  was  soon  after  ad- 
mitted to  the  bar,  and  took  a  position  with  the  foremost  in 
the  ranks  of  the  profession  in  his  district.  The  year  1849 
was  an  eventful  one.  He  conceived  the  idea  of  building 
the  Iron  Mountain  railroad,  and  suggested  it  to  the  peo- 
ple of  the  county.  He  was  by  them  nominated  and  elected 
to  the  General  Assembly  for  the  purpose  of  securing  the 
passage  of  a  bill  for  the  establishment  of  that  road. 

In  June,  1849,  the  cholera  raged  in  Potosi.  He  was 
stricken  down,  and,  while  violently  ill,  his  wife  and  in- 
fant daughter  died  of  this  disease.  The  following  winter 
he  served  in  the  Missouri  Legislature,  and  secured  the 
passage  of  the  bill  for  the  Iron  Mountain  road.  He  was 
subsequently  largely  concerned  in  developing  and  map- 
ping the  entire  railroad  system  in  that  State. 

In  1851  he  removed  to  St.  Louis,  and  was  appointed 
land  agent  and  attorney  for  the  Pacific  railroad.  In  the 
year  1853  he  was  married,  the  second  time,  to  Pattie  B. 


HISTOR  Y  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE.    181 

Scott,  eldest  daughter  of  Rev.  Robert  Scott,  deceased,  of 
the  Virginia  Conference.  He  was  elected  in  1858  a 
member  of  the  Missouri  State  Senate  from  the  city  of  St. 
Louis.  In  this  body  he  at  once  took  a  prominent  posi- 
tion, and  was  a  member  of  nearly  every  important  com- 
mittee of  the  body.  In  the  session  of  i86o-'6i  he  was 
chairman  of  the  Committee  on  Federal  Relations,  at  that 
time  the  most  important  committee  of  the  Senate. 

He  was  decidedly  conservative  in  his  views,  and 
anxious  to  secure  the  preservation  of  the  Union,  if  it 
could  be  done  consistently  with  the  rights  of  the  South ; 
but  when  the  Peace  Congress  proved  a  failure,  the  Crit- 
tenden  Compromise  was  rejected,  and  Virginia  seceded, 
he  became  a  secessionist,  and  was  heart  and  soul  with 
the  South  throughout  the  struggle.  His  position  and 
opinions  on  the  vexed  question  forced  him  to  leave  Mis- 
souri. Without  hesitation  he  sacrificed  all  for  his  prin- 
ciples, left  his  family  in  St.  Louis,  and  joined  the  forces 
under  General  Sterling  Price,  on  whose  staff  he  served 
for  two  years  as  volunteer  aid.  Being  convinced  that 
the  many  reverses  in  that  department,  at  that  period, 
were  due  in  a  great  measure  to  lack  and  inferiority  of 
transportation,  he  called  the  attention  of  the  authorities 
at  Richmond  to  this  point.  He  was  soon  after  autho- 
rized to  establish  the  Confederate  Transportation  Works 
at  Columbus,  Ga.  To  this  important  interest  he  directed 
his  whole  energies,  and  succeeded  in  establishing  one  of 
the  best  arranged,  most  extensive  and  complete  machine 
shops  in  the  Confederacy.  This  position  he  retained 
until  the  close  of  the  war,  when  he  removed  with  his 
family  to  Montgomery,  Ala.,  and  returned  to  the  prac- 
tice of  law.  While  there  he  was  elected  to  the  Presi- 
dency of  Randolph- Macon  College.  On  reaching  Vir- 
ginia and  entering  upon  his  duties  he  found  great  dim- 


182    HISTORY  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE. 

culties  in  his  path.  But  with  characteristic  energy  he  at 
once  addressed  himself  to  the  task  of  re-establishing  the 
College.  Nearly  two  years  of  unremitted  toil,  under  the 
most  discouraging  circumstances,  convinced  him  that 
success  could  never  crown  his  efforts  at  that  location. 
He  felt  that  to  make  the  College  a  success  it  must  be 
removed  to  a  more  accessible  point.  Fortunately,  just 
at  this  juncture  of  affairs,  the  hotel  property  at  Ashland 
was  thrown  upon  the  market.  With  his  quick  foresight, 
Colonel  Johnson  realized  the  importance  of  securing  this 
eligible  location. 

It  was  not  to  be  expected  that  the  removal  of  the  Col- 
lege would  be  accomplished  without  strong  opposition 
on  the  part  of  some  of  its  warmest  friends.  But  in  the 
midst  of  the  contest  Colonel  Johnson  bore  himself  like  a 
Christian  gentleman.  He  could  appreciate  the  views  of 
others,  while  he  felt  that  the  very  existence  of  the  insti- 
tution depended  on  its  removal  to  a  more  suitable  site. 
We  believe,  indeed  we  have  reason  to  know,  that  he  en- 
tertained for  those  who  opposed  him  in  his  plans  no 
other  feelings  than  those  of  friendship  and  Christian  af- 
fection. To  his  particular  friends,  who  were  often  in- 
dignant at  the  hard  speeches  uttered  against  him,  he 
would  reply,  "Never  mind,  I  keep  my  heart  right  before 
God."  Believing  that  he  was  acting  for  the  best  he  went 
forward  like  a  true  and  earnest  man  in  what  he  regarded 
as  the  path  of  duty. 

Having  seen  the  removal  of  the  College  determined 
upon,  to  relieve  the  Trustees  of  all  the  embarrassment 
in  the  election  of  a  Faculty,  he  generously  came  forward 
and  tendered  his  resignation,  and  soon  after  started  to 
the  West,  the  scene  of  his  early  labors  and  successes. 
It  was  while  en  route  to  St.  Louis  (on  August  8,  1868,) 
that  he  met  with  the  terrible  accident  that  in  a  few  hours 


HISTOR  Y  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE.    183 

closed  his  noble  and  useful  life.  The  death  of  Colonel 
Johnson  was  a  calamity  to  our  church  and  to  our  coun- 
try. He  had  passed  the  period  of  life  when  men  are 
seized  by  ambition  and  borne  off  in  pursuit  of  wealth 
or  fame.  He  had  gained  both ;  the  former  he  had 
lost  in  standing  for  his  native  land  and  State  rights; 
the  latter  he  still  possessed  in  a  more  valuable  form,  as 
purified  by  the  power  and  faith  of  his  religion.  Re- 
peatedly has  he  said  to  the  writer,  ' '  I  only  wish  to  live 
to  do  good."  To  the  Christian  education  of  the  young 
men  of  the  South  he  was  ardently  devoted,  and  to  this 
work  we  know  he  wished  to  devote  the  energies  of  a 
manly  and  mature  intellect. 

The  spontaneous  tributes  to  the  memory  of  this  good 
man  will  best  show  how  he  was  appreciated  by  those 
who  knew  him. 

In  a  letter  now  before  us  from  Rev.  Charles  K.  Mar- 
shall, D.  D.,  of  Mississippi,  to  his  bereaved  family,  that 
eminent  minister  says:  "From  my  first  acquaintance  to 
this  hour  my  affections  took  to  and  clung  around  him  as 
one  of  the  highest  and  noblest  types  of  exalted  manhood, 
as  a  true,  steadfast,  appreciating  friend ;  and  as  a  brother 
in  Christ  with  whose  inward  spirit  it  was  a  joy  to  com- 
mune. Few  men  cherished  so  high  and  sacred  views  of 
the  dignity  and  ends  of  life.  Usefulness  was  the  key- 
note of  his  being.  Unselfish,  wide-minded,  spiritual, 
transparent,  pure,  he  was  a  living  epistle  known  and 
read  of  all.  His  life  was  hid  in  Christ,  and  the  highest 
ambition  of  his  soul  was  to  live  to  and  for  Christ." 

Rev.  Dr.  Deems,  of  New  York,  says:  "His  abilities 
and  virtues  rendered  him  one  of  the  most  useful  men  I 
have  ever  known.  Every  interview  I  have  had  with 
him  since  our  acquaintance  began  has  served  to  deepen 
my  respect  for  the  loftiness  of  his  character." 


184    HISTORY  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE. 

Bishop  McTyeire,  who  was  a  fellow-student  with  him 
at  Randolph- Macon,  says:  "In  church  and  state  it 
seemed  to  me  he  was  just  such  an  one  as  we  need 
now.  With  gratitude  I  remember  his  high  Christian 
influence  as  a  student.  Our  meeting  and  reunion  at 
Montgomery,  twenty-five  years  after,  was  one  of  the 
most  pleasing  events  of  my  life.  Who  of  us  has  not 
coveted  his  gifts  ? ' ' 

Such  is  the  testimony,  voluntarily  given,  by  this  emi- 
nent minister. 

We  are  enabled  to  give  a  more  detailed  account  of  this 
sad  event  from  a  letter  written  by  the  proprietor  of  the 
hotel  at  Mattoon : 

' '  When  Mr.  Johnson  came  out  of  the  saloon  of  the 
sleeping  car,  the  conductor  told  him  to  'hurry  up.' 
Thinking  he  would  be  left  if  he  did  not  make  haste, 
Mr.  J.'  went  quickly  forward  through  the  car,  and  was 
just  in  the  act  of  stepping  across  to  the  forward  car  when 
the  cars  separated,  and  he  fell  on  the  track,  and  before 
he  could  recover  himself  he  was  struck  by  the  rear  car 
and  fatally  injured.  His  right  leg  was  crushed  in  two 
places  and  his  back  broken.  As  soon  as  possible  he  was 
taken  from  under  the  car.  His  first  words  were,  '  My 
friends,  my  name  is  Thomas  C.  Johnson,  of  Boydton, 
Va. ;  take  your  pencil  and  write  it  down.'  A  stretcher 
was  then  procured,  and  he  was  brought  to  my  house. 
We  did  all  we  could  for  him.  Doctors  were  at  hand 
from  the  moment  he  was  hurt  until  he  died.  The  in- 
jured leg  was  amputated ;  and  on  further  examination 
it  was  found  that  his  back  was  broken.  He  was  then 
told  that  he  was  fatally  injured  and  could  live  but  a 
short  time,  and  that  any  directions  he  had  to  give  must 
be  given  quickly.  He  then  gave  directions  as  to  the 
disposal  of  his  body,  requesting  it  to  be  sent  to  his  friends 


HISTORY  OF  RANDOLPH  MACON  COLLEGE.    185 

in  Virginia.  He  was  emphatic  in  saying  that  his  death 
was  caused  by  the  mismanagement  of  the  railroad  offi- 
cials. Before  his  death,  at  his  request,  a  notary  public 
was  sent  for,  and  his  testimony  as  to  the  cause  of  his 
death  was  legally  taken.  He  was  sensible  to  the  last 
moment,  and  spoke  with  deep  feeling  of  the  overwhelm- 
ing effect  the  tidings  of  his  terrible  and  sudden  death 
would  have  upon  his  family.  I  sat  by  his  side  and 
heard  every  word  he  uttered.  The  general  opinion  of 
the  public  here  is  that  the  railroad  company  is  responsi- 
ble for  Mr.  Johnson's  death." 

Such  was  the  end  of  a  most  useful  and  devoted  Chris- 
tian. In  the  midst  of  strangers,  mangled,  and  bleeding, 
he  died.  By  the  grace  of  God  he  was  sustained  and  com- 
forted. Calmly  he  surrendered  his  life  into  the  hands 
of  his  Creator.  How  wonderful  are  the  ways  of  Provi- 
dence! The  workmen  die,  but  the  work  goes  on.  Is 
the  doctrine  of  premonition  true?  We  often  incline  to 
the  belief  that  it  is.  In  many  cases  there  appears  to  be 
a  conviction  that  the  work  of  life  is  finished,  and  the 
soul  feels  itself  nearing  the  portals  of  eternity.  Speak- 
ing of  Colonel  Johnson's  experience,  one  who  knew  him 
well  sa)*s,  "I  can  but  think  that  the  last  six  months 
of  his  life  was  a  period  of  preparation  for  eternity.  I 
was  deeply  impressed  with  his  growth  in  grace,  the 
fervor  and  earnestness  of  his  piety,  and  his  forbearance 
and  patience  under  severe  trials." 

The  close  of  life  was  in  happy  accord  with  his  previ- 
ous religious  experience.  A  letter  from  Mattoon  says : 
"  He  died  in  perfect  peace.  I  never  saw  a  more  peaceful 
expression  than  rested  on  his  face  after  death."  He 
leaves  to  his  farrjly  the  priceless  legacy  of  a  pure  and 
noble  Christian  life.  May  they  move  on  to  the  meeting 
and  reunion  in  the  house  of  our  Father  in  heaven. — W. 
W.  BENNETT,  in  Richmond  Advocate. 


186   HISTORY  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE. 

The  committee  of  nine  appointed  to  elect  professors 
and  a  president  (in  case  of  Dr.  Garland's  declination  to 
accept)  met  August  7,  1868.  Dr.  Garland  having  de- 
clined to  accept  the  presidency,  the  committee,  all  being 
present,  elected  Rev.  James  A.  Duncan,  of  the  Virginia 
Conference,  and  an  alumnus  of  the  College  (class  of 
1849),  president,  at  a  salary  of  $2,500  per  annum,  and 
use  of  residence.  Subsequently,  on  the  first  day  of  Sep- 
tember, the  committee,  all  being  present  except  Bishop 


PROF.  THOMAS  R.   PRICE,  .M.  A.,   LL. 

J'~oinidcr  of  the  School  of  English, 


D., 


Doggett,  in  conjunction  with  the  President-elect,  Dun- 
can, who  had  accepted  the  presidency,  proceeded  to  fill 
the  chairs  of  instruction.  Thomas  R.  Price,  M.  A.,  was 
elected  Professor  of  Ancient  Languages;  Harry  Estill, 
A.  M.,  Professor  of  Mathematics;  Richard  M.  Smith, 
Professor  of  Natural  Sciences.  Their  salaries  were  fixed 
at  $2,000  per  annum  with  houses  of  residence. 


REV.  JAMES  A.  DUNCAN,  A.  M.    D.   D.,  PRESIDENT,  1868-' 77. 


HISTORY  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE.    187 

Subsequently,  at  a  meeting  of  the  Board  October  i, 
1868,  the  chair  of  Modern  Languages  was  filled  by  the 
election  of  W.  W.  Valentine,  of  Richmond. 

The  sudden  and  lamented  death  of  the  late  President 
Johnson  was  announced  to  the  Board,  and  appropriate 
resolutions  in  regard  to  him  were  adopted. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Board,  held  November  20,  1868, 
Rev.  Win.  B.  Rowzie  was  appointed  Agent  of  the  Col- 
lege in  the  bounds  of  the  Virginia,  and  Dr.  Nelson  Head 


PROF.   HARRY  ESTII.I.,   A.    M. 
Professor  of  Mathematics,  l8b8-i8j8. 

Agent  (till  the  succeeding  Baltimore  Conference),  in  the 
latter  Conference. 

The  College  opened  at  Ashland,  October  i,  1868. 

With  great  labor  and  many  embarrassments  the  Col- 
lege furniture,  laboratories  and  libraries  had  been  trans- 
ferred from  Boydton  to  Ashland,  under  the  special  su- 
perintendence of  Rev.  T.  S.  Campbell.  The  buildings 
on  the  campus  had  been  remodeled  and  repaired,  and 


1 88    HISTORY  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE. 

were  in  fair  condition  for  occupancy,  and  for  the  work 
and  use  to  which  they  had  been  converted.  They  had 
in  former  years  been  used  for  a  summer  resort,  to  which 
many  visitors  annually  repaired  for  health  and  dissipa- 
tion. The  largest  building  was  the  hotel,  which  had 
several  buildings  attached.  In  the  centre  of  the  grounds 
was  the  ball-room,  flanked  by  dressing-rooms.  This 


PROF.   RICHARD  M.  SMITH. 

building  was  converted  into  a  chapel  and  society  halls, 
while  the  hotel  became  the  main  dormitory  building. 
The  bowling-alley  and  other  buildings  also  became  dor- 
mitories. Three  buildings  were  fitted  up  for  professor's 
houses.  The  rooms  on  the  lower  floors  of  the  hotel  were 
made  lecture-rooms.  Though  the  buildings  were  ex- 
temporised, the  whole  arrangement  was  comparatively 
convenient  and  comfortable.  What  was  defective  and 


HIS'TOR  \ '  OF  RANDOLPH-  MACON  COLLEGE.    1 89 

might  have  been  complained  of  was  more  than  compen- 
pensated  by  the  superb  Faculty  of  instruction  provided 
for  the  students  in  attendance.  First  and  foremost  was 
the  President,  Rev.  James  A.  Duncan,  D.  D.  Of  him 
we  will  let  others  who  were  associated  \vith  him  speak. 
His  colleagues  were  Professor  Thomas  R.  Price,  M.  A., 


PROF.   \V.    \\.   VALKNTINE. 


Professor  Harry  Estill,  A.  M.,  Professor  Richard  M. 
Smith,  Professor  \V.  \V.  Valentine. 

Rarely  has  such  a  combination  of  teaching  ability  been 
found  in  any  college,  or  one  wrhich  met  the  needs  of  the 
time  more  fully. 

The  name  of  the  President  had  drawn  from  his  far-away 
Southern  home  one  of  the  most  original  characters  the 
College  ever  had  among  its  matriculates,  John  Hannon, 
of  Montgomery,  Ala. 


i go    HISTORY  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE. 

JOHN  HANNON'S  SKETCH  OF  DR.  DUNCAN. 

"In  the  autumn  of  1868  upon  the  train  I  first  met  Dr. 
James  A.  Duncan,  as  I  was  going  to  Ashland.  Full- 
orbed,  approaching  his  zenith,  this  pulpit  star  thus  came 
into  my  sky.  Though  he  has  years  since  set  behind  the 
grassy  hills  of  Hollywood,  the  light  of  his  great  charac- 
ter still  lingers  in  the  valleys  and  on  the  high  places  of 
my  being. 

"It  is  impossible  in  a  sketch  like  this  to  give  the  full 
spectrum  of  a  character  so  rich  as  that  of  Dr.  Duncan. 
There  were  X-rays,  delicate  gleamings  of  light  from  his 
presence,  that  could  be  felt,  but  do  not  photograph  them- 
selves upon  the  plates  of  a  biography.  He  was  not  a 
man  easy  to  forget. 

"There  is  a  sense  in  which  every  man  is  a  word  of 
God,  or  a  syllable  of  the  word.  But  in  some  the  divine 
articulation  is  not  so  distinct.  Regarding  humanity  as 
a  written  word,  such  characters  are  what  scholars  would 
call  a  'disputed  text.'  Not  so  with  James  A.  Duncan. 
Looking  upon  him  no  man  could  doubt  the  authorship. 
The  divine  autograph  was  there  in  capital  letters.  A 
look  at  him  shook  our  faith  in  man  as  an  evolution. 
We  felt  that  that  man  was  a  creation. 

"  'Would  I  had  a  presence,'  said  one  of  our  brainiest 
men  to  me.  A  lady  of  my  congregation  asked  a  friend 
in  a  Boston  dining  parlor  who  a  certain  man  was,  re- 
marking that  she  knew  he  must  be  a  distinguished  per- 
son, for  she  said,  '  He  has  a  presence.'  The  man  was 
Phillips  Brooks. 

' '  Dr.  Duncan  had  a  presence.  Who  will  ever  forget 
that  Napoleonic  build  ?  That  physique,  the  very  motion 
of  which  was  silent  music. 

"Tremendous    was  to  be  the   draft  on    this   superb 


S-  I 


N 

I   > 


»•  p 

D       HH 


HISTOR  Y  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE.    191 

physique  during  the  ten  years  that  followed  the  day  I 
first  looked  on  it.  The  College  with  its  endowment  had 
gone  down  amid  the  ruins  of  the  Confederacy.  The  out- 
look was  gloomy;  but  it  was  resolved  to  remove  the 
tree  to  Ashland.  Here  the  railway  system  of  the  South 
would  renew  its  roots  and  make  it  bud  and  bloom  again. 
Jefferson  Davis  was  thought  of  for  the  presidency,  but 
in  a  happy  hour  Dr.  Duncan  was  chosen  to  lead  the 
forlorn  hope  in  its  rebuilding.  Without  funds,  without 
laboratory,  without  proper  buildings,  he  addressed  him- 
self to  the  task.  Providence  came  to  his  rescue.  By 
one  of  those  flashes  of  common  sense,  which  not  always 
light  up  church  enterprises,  a  Faculty  pre-eminently 
adapted  to  the  work  had  been  chosen.  Professor  Thomas 
R.  Price,  a  name  synonymous  now  with  scholarship,  was 
in  the  chair  of  Ancient  Languages.  Harry  Estill  filled 
the  chair  of  Mathematics.  Professor  Richard  M.  Smith 
brought  the  ripe  wisdom  and  experience  of  his  dis- 
tinguished life  to  the  chair  of  Natural  Sciences.  W.  W. 
Valentine  held  the  keys  of  the  Modern  Languages. 

' '  It  has  been  said  that  what  a  university  needs  is  not 
so  much  an  endowment  as  a  man.  Randolph- Macon 
had  men,  and  Dr.  Duncan,  a  man  among  men.  The 
Faculty  itself  was  an  endowment.  Good  material 
gathered  around  them  as  students.  'Facile  princeps' 
among  these  were  Wm.  W.  Smith,  now  LL.  D.,  and 
President  of  the  Randolph- Macon  System  of  Colleges 
and  Schools ;  Charles  Carroll,  now  a  brilliant  lawyer  of 
the  Crescent  city;  Rhodes,  since  a  judge  in  Baltimore; 
J.  F.  Twitty,  of  blessed  memory,  and  a  number  of  others. 

' '  Dr.  Duncan,  while  not  technically  trained  as  a  teacher, 
yet  showed  himself  a  great  teacher.  What  an  inspira- 
tion he  imparted  to  the  band  that  gathered  around  him  ! 
How  he  lit  up  every  dreary  field  of  text !  Blessed,  yea, 


1 92     HISTOR  V  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE. 

thrice  blessed,  was  that  school  of  young  prophets.  While 
himself  the  finest  of  models,  nothing  was  farther  from 
his  thought  than  to  make  little  'Duncans'  of  every  stu- 
dent. Bring  up  a  boy  in  the  way  he  should  go,  accord- 
ing to  his  bent,  this  was  his  idea.  He  would  never  have 
been  guilty  of  putting  the  toga  of  Cicero  upon  Charles 
Spurgeon.  With  him  good  '  pork  and  beans '  was  not  to 
be  made  into  bad  'quail  on  toast.'  'Sing  your  own 
song,'  only  let  that  song  be  the  best  possible  to  you. 
Broad,  Catholic-hearted  Duncan ! 

"  Making  a  great  teacher  did  not  spoil  a  great  preacher 
in  Duncan's  case.  On  a  '  star-map'  of  the  pulpits  of  that 
day,  the  pulpit  in  the  old  ball-room  chapel  at  Ashland 
would  shine  as  a  star  of  'the  first  magnitude.'  His 
sermons  were  not  like  Robertson's  eruptions  of  internal 
volcanic  fires  lifting  up  new  heights  of  thought;  they 
were  not  Munsey's  great,  gorgeous  cathedrals  of  polished 
words ;  neither  were  they  Keener's  cyclones  filling  the 
air  with  boulders  of  logic,  cutting  a  pathway  through 
forests  of  prejudice  as  old  as  our  being.  His  eloquence 
was  not  the  glacial  magnificence  of  Wilson's  great  ice- 
bergs floating  in  polar  seas  with  grassy  shores ;  it  was 
not  Galloway's  mountain  torrent  with  'optimism,'  that 
music  of  heaven  in  its  splash  and  the  swiftness  of  redeem- 
ing love  in  its  rush  to  the  low  places  of  earth.  Very 
different  was  it  from  Sam  Jones'  wild  tanglewood  of 
tropic  forest  of  mingled  fruit  and  flowers  and  thorns. 
His  sermons  were  the  expression  of  what  Carlyle  would 
style  a  healthy  nature.  There  was  nothing  wild  or  ab- 
normal. They  were  like  landscapes  in  a  civilized  land — 
great,  like  the  movement  of  the  seasons,  like  the  coming 
of  the  tides — as  the  processes  of  nature  are  great ;  great  as 
a  summer  day  is  great.  The  introduction  was  morning ! 
— sunrise!  not  striking,  not  surprising.  The  thoughts 


HISTOR  Y  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE.    193 

not  larks  soaring  heavenward,  were  rather  sparrows  on  the 
sward.  But  we  could  see  great  stretches  of  thought  be- 
fore us.  Now  the  morning  changes  into  high  noon.  It 
is  the  sermon  proper.  We  are  now  in  the  midst  of  vast 
grain-fields  of  ripe  thought.  Divisions  barely  visible 
above  the  heads  of  the  choicest  of  the  wheat  waving  now 
in  the  zephyrs  of  pathos.  Shouts  at  times  among  the 
listeners,  as  like  reapers  they  garner  ripe  sheaves  into 
their  bosoms ;  orchards  now  growing  with  ripe  fruit. 

' '  The  peroration  comes  naturally,  as  evening  follows 
noon.  We  hardly  know  when  it  comes.  A  splendid 
sunset,  often  tears  like  the  dewdrops  in  the  flowers  of 
new  resolves,  now  springing  in  the  soul ;  solemn  im- 
pressions, like  shadows,  growing  larger ;  a  deep  hush 
upon  everything.  The  sermon  closes.  It  is  night. 
But  stars  of  hope  are  shining  in  the  sky  of  the  soul. 

' '  At  Haslup's  Grove,  in  the  seventies,  in  a  great  ser- 
mon ,  the  rush  to  the  altar  was  so  great  that  the  enclosure 
had  to  be  torn  down.  It  was  pentecostal. 

"I  heard  him  on  two  great  occasions.  In  1876,  along 
with  Dr.  Landon  C.  Garland  and  Lovick  Pierce,  he  was 
fraternal  delegate  from  our  church  to  our  sister  Method- 
ism at  the  General  Conference  in  Baltimore.  After  years 
of  estrangement  the  two  Methodisms  were  meeting 
again.  It  was  an  occasion.  You  could  feel  it.  The 
great  building  was  thronged.  When  the  time  came  for 
Duncan  to  speak  he  threw  his  soul  into  the  '  God  speed 
you! 'of  seven  hundred  thousand  Southern  Methodists. 
The  audience  for  awhile  it  seemed  would  go  wild.  The 
day  was  a  great  triumph. 

' '  During  that  same  Conference  the  princety  '  Jeff. 
Magruder '  organized  a  great  mass-meeting  of  the  Sun- 
day-schools of  the  Southern  Methodist  churches  in  Balti- 
more. Bishop  Vincent,  Secretary  of  the  Sunday-School 
13 


i94    HISTORY          ^.ANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE. 

Board  of  the  v  list  Episcopal  Church,  then  in  the 
prime  of  his  p  ^?s,  General  Clinton  B.  Fiske,  and  Dr. 
Duncan  were  >  Sxseak.  The  speeches  of  Vincent  and 
Fiske  had  beei  ;o  ^uperb  that  a  gifted  minister  remarked 
to  me,  'I  am  sorry  for  Duncan.'  I  responded,  'lam 
sorry  for  any  man  who  has  to  follow  two  such  speeches.' 
But  I  found  that  I  did  not  yet  know  him.  He  pulled 
out  new  organ  stops  in  his  great  soul  that  afternoon. 
His  speech  was  a  brilliant  improvisation.  The  audience 
was  captured.  Southern  Methodists  who  gloried  in  the 
flesh  were  radiant. 

"When  going  to  New  Orleans,  in  1877,  I  met  him 
going  to  Washington  City  to  preach  the  first  sermon  to 
the  President-elect,  R.  B.  Hayes.  It  was  not  long  before 
wires  flashed  to  me  the  startling  news  of  his  death. 
Duncan,  Marvin,  A.  T.  Bledsoe,  Doggett,  in  a  single 
year.  Heaven  was  drawing  heavily  upon  our  beloved 
church.  Duncan's  old  pupil,  President  Smith,  took  up 
the  work  he  and  the  sainted  Bennett  laid  down. 

"The  Randolph-Macoii  System  of  Schools  and  Col- 
leges is  a  worthy  monument  to  the  memory  of  our  dead 
Duncan.  May  the  graduates  of  these  schools  be  living 
stones  in  the  living  shaft,  ever  rising  higher  and  higher 
to  the  memory  of  Olin,  Garland,  Smith,  and  their  suc- 
cessors, who  spent  their  best  days  for  the  advancement 
of  Christian  education  at  our  alma  mater. ' ' 

The  number  of  students  matriculated  the  first  session 
was  67.  Under  all  the  embarrassments  and  difficulties 
of  the  situation,  this  number  was  as  great  as  could  have 
been  expected.  The  income  from  such  a  small  number 
was  insufficient  to  meet  the  expenses,  and  here  ensued 
the  old  trouble,  which  had  been  such  a  clog  in  the  past, 
that  is,  straitened  finances.  The  condition  of  the  coun- 


HISTOR  Y  OF  RANDOLPH-V         .V  COLLEGE.    195 

tfryr  was  anything  but  favorable  >''y  effort  to  raise 
funds  for  the  College.  Various  T  a},  <  were  proposed, 
some  of  which  were  adopted,  but  n  im&bf  them  brought 
speedy  relief,  and  the  embarrassmei  .t  Itecame  very  oner- 
ous and  trying.  By  the  efforts  of  the  Agent,  Rev.  W.  B. 
Rowzie,  and  the  securing  of  a  loan  by  D'Arcy  Paul,' 
Esq.,  the  College  was  carried  through  the  first  session. 

The  first  annual  report  of  the  President  was  made 
June  21,  1869.  The  following  synopsis  is  given  : 

Congratulates  the  Board  on  the  increase  of  patronage ; 
the  zeal  and  efficiency  of  the  Faculty  ;  the  diligence  and 
good  order  of  the  students  ;  the  general  healthfulness 
and  pleasant  harmony  of  all  connected  with  the  institu- 
tion, and  the  increased  confidence  of  the  public  in  the 
permanency  and  success  of  Randolph- Macon  College  ; 
expresses  the  conviction  that  the  only  condition  pre- 
requisite to  complete  success,  under  the  providence  of 
God,  is  a  determined  and  energetic  purpose  to  succeed  ; 
affirms  that  the  demand  for  such  an  institution  to  secure 
important  interests  of  Methodism  is  imperative  ;  .  .  .  . 
refers  to  his  visit  to  the  Baltimore  and  North  Carolina 
Conferences  and  the  cordial  reception  given  by  these 
Conferences ;  recommends  a  fiscal  secretary  or  director, 
whose  duty  it  shall  be  to  take  entire  control  of  the  finan- 
cial interests  of  the  College,  except  as  to  matters  in  the 
hands  of  the  Proctor,  and  to  do  all  he  can  by  travelling 
and  speaking  for  the  College. 

The  following  degrees  were  conferred,  on  the  recom- 
mendation of  the  Faculty,  viz.:  LL.  D.,  on  Professor 
Francis  H.  Smith,  of  the  University  of  Virginia  ;  D.  D., 
on  Rev.  James  L.  Pierce,  of  the  Georgia  Conference, 
Rev.  William  G.  Connor,  of  the  Texas  Conference,  and 
Rev.  John  C.  Granbery,  of  the  Virginia  Conference. 

The  commencement  in  June  was  well  attended,  espe- 


i</>    HJSTOR  \'  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE. 

cially  by  visiting  Trustees  and  others  from  the  Baltimore 
Conference. 

An  excellent  dwelling  for  the  President  had  been 
erected  by  the  liberal  aid  of  a  friend  in  Richmond. 

At  an  adjourned  meeting  of  the  Board,  held  in  Rich- 
mond, Va.,  next  November,  there  were  several  causes  for 
encouragement.  The  Agent  reported  subscriptions 
amounting  to  over  $13,000.  Of  this  Samuel  O.  Moon, 
Ksq.,  of  Albemarle,  gave  $5,000  in  Virginia  bonds;  the 
Society  of  Alumni,  $1,200;  Major  W.  T.  Sutherlin,  of 
Danville,  $1,500  ($300  per  annum  for  five  years  to  meet 
current  expenses).  But  the  most  important  action  taken 
was  on  the  suggestion  of  Rev.  W.  H.  Christian,  an 
alumnus  of  the  College  (class  of  1851.)  In  response 
to  this  suggestion,  the  following  resolutions  were 
adopted  : 

' '  Resolved,  That  we  request  the  Virginia  Conference 
to  order  that  the  deficiency  in  the  yearly  revenues  of  the 
College  (which  shall  be  reported  by  the  Board  to  each 
annual  se.ssion  of  the  Conference)  shall  be  divided  among 
all  the  districts  of  the  Conference,  and  sub-divided  among 
all  the  stations  and  circuits  by  the  district  stewards,  as 
in  case  of  the  Conference  collection,  and  shall  be  raised 
by  collections  in  every  congregation,  and  embraced  in 
the  annual  report  of  the  recording  steward  of  every 
.charge  to  the  Financial  Board  of  the  Conference. 

"Resolved,  That  when  the  Virginia  Conference  shall 
have  adopted  the  plan  proposed,  all  its  ministers  shall 
be  entitled  to  send  their  sons  of  proper  age  and  acquire- 
ments to  College  without  payment  of  tuition  fees  ;  that 
the  Baltimore  Conference,  by  adopting  the  same  plan, 
shall  be  entitled  to  the  same  privilege,  and  that  $2,500 
be  fixed  as  the  amount  to  be  raised  by  each  of  these  Con- 
ferences for  the  next  year." 


HISTORY.  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE.    197 

This  action  has  been  considered,  and  rightly  so,  to 
have  been  for  the  time  and  under  the  embarrassments  of 
the  surroundings  the  most  important  and  efficient  ever 
taken  by  the  Board.  With  a  small  assessment  of  about 
five  cents  on  each  member  of  the  church  in  the  two  Con- 
ferences, the  annual  income  was  in  a  short  time  increased 
by  the  sum  of  $4,000,  which  was  equal  to  the  dividends 


RF.V.   W.   H.   CHRISTIAN,    U.   1)., 
Virginia,  Conference. 

on  an  endowment  of  about  $70,000.  The  Conferences 
adopted  the  plan,  and  have  annually  raised  a  large  per- 
centage of  the  assessment,  the  Virginia  Conference  hav- 
ing in  1882  increased  its  assessment  to  $3,500. 

In  looking  back  on  the   period    since,   nearly  thirty 
years,  it  really  looks  as  if,  without  this  action,  the  Col- 


1 98    HISTOR  Y  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE. 

lege  could  not  have  continued  its  work.  Certainly  this 
work  would  have  been  greatly  narrowed  and  restricted. 
Great  honor,  therefore,  should  be  bestowed  on  the  name 
of  William  H.  Christian  as  the  mover  of  this  plan,  and 
the  friends  of  Christian  education  in  the  State  should 
render  to  the  Conferences  grateful  thanks  for  having, 


JOHN   HOWARD,    A.    M. 

under  the  promptings  of  the  good  Spirit,  acted  so 
promptly  on  the  suggestion  and  carried  .it  out  for  so 
many  years. 

The  year  1869  was  otherwise  a  notable  year.  In  the 
latter  part  of  the  year  the  first  general  election  for  State 
officers  and  a  Legislature  was  held  since  the  close  of  the 
war.  With  the  inauguration  of  the  Governor  elected  at 
this  election  and  resumption  of  the  legislative  functions 


HISTORY  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE.    199 

by  the  General  Assembly,  the  State  resumed  its  normal 
condition,  and  military  rule  ceased  to  exist. 

At  the  meeting  of  this  first  Legislature,  a  committee, 
which  had  been  charged  with  that  duty,  appeared  before 
the  body  and  asked  and  obtained  the  change  of  the  char- 
ter, and  the  sanction  to  the  removal  of  the  College  from 
its  original  site  to  Ashland.  The  amended  charter  reads 
as  follows : 

' '  §  i .  That  the  removal  of  the  aforesaid  College  is 
hereby  ratified  and  confirmed,  and  that  there  be,  and  is 
hereby,  established  at  Ashland,  in  the  county  of  Han- 
over, in  this  Commonwealth,  a  seminary  of  learning  for 
the  instruction  of  youth  in  the  various  branches  of  sci- 
ence and  literature,  the  useful  arts,  agriculture,  and  the 
learned  and  foreign  languages." 

The  suit  which  was  instituted  to  enjoin  the  removal 
of  the  College  never  came  to  an  issue.  It  was  ably  de- 
fended on  the  part  of  the  majority  of  the  Board  by  John 
Howard,  Esq.,  of  Richmond  (class  of  1844),  and  the 
argument  was  printed.  It  is  worthy  of  reprinting  here, 
but  space  will  not  permit. 

The  second  session  of  the  College  had  a  larger  attend- 
ance than  the  first  by  fifty,  of  which  number  twenty-five 
were  ministerial  students. 

About  the  close  of  the  first  term  of  the  second  session 
(i869~'7o)  one  of  the  professors  was  taken  from  the  Col- 
lege by  death — Richard  M.  Smith,  Professor  of  Natural 
Science.  He  was  the  oldest  man  of  the  Faculty. 

The  following  preamble  and  resolutions,  drafted  by 
Professor  Price  and  adopted  by  the  Faculty,  was  endorsed 
and  adopted  by  the  Trustees  at  an  adjourned  meeting 
held  in  Richmond,  February  23,  1870: 

"  Upon  us  as  friends  who  loved  and  honored  him,  upon 
the  College  whose  faithful  officer  he  was,  upon  the  classes 


200  ^HISTORY  OF  RANDOLP  H-MACON  COLLEGE. 

he  taught  with  self-sacrificing  zeal,  upon  the  community 
and  the  church  in  which  his  virtues  made  him  eminent, 
an  overwhelming  sorrow  has,  under  God's  will,  fallen  in 
the  death  of  our  late  colleague,  Professor  Richard  M. 
Smith.  Even  those  who  had  not  the  pleasure  of  know- 
ing, from  intimate  association,  the  beauties  of  his  pri- 
vate character,  may  from  the  knowledge  of  his  career 
form  some  conception  of  the  vigor  of  his  mind  and  the 


PROF.    WM.   A.   SHEPARD,   A.    M., 
Class  /$J7  ;  Major  Confederate  States  A  riuy. 

unspotted  virtue  of  his  life.  For  us,  who  had  in  him  the 
closer  and  tenderer  interests  of  a  common  work  and  an 
undisturbed  friendship,  his  sweet  temper,  his  wise  con- 
versation and  lofty  unselfishness,  will  ever  be  a  source 
of  blended  sorrow  and  consolation ;  be  it,  therefore, 

".Resolved,  i.  That  we  tender,  as  a  body,  to  the  widow 
and  family  of  our  dearly  beloved  colleague,  our  respectful 
sympathy  in  their  bereavement. 


HISTORY  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE,    201 

"2.  That  we  request  our  President  to  publish  this 
expression  of  our  heart-felt  sorrow  for  the  friend  whom 
we  have  lost." 

Professor  Smith  had  been  a  prominent  man  in  his 
native  State,  first  as  an  educator,  then  as  editor  of  the 
Alexandria  Sentinel,  afterwards  of  the  Richmond  Enquirer. 
He  was  the  first  Professor  to  die  at  his  post. 

The  Board,  after  paying  tribute  to  his  memory,  pro- 
ceeded to  supply  the  vacant  chair. 

On  the  first  ballot  Professor  William  Arthur  Shepard, 
of  the  Southern  Female  College  of  Petersburg,  was  elected 
to  the  place.  He  was  no  stranger  to  the  College,  having 
served  as  Professor  prior  to  the  w7ar,  and  having  resigned 
his  place  to  go  into  the  service.  Though  a  Northern 
man  by  birth,  he  threw  his  heart  and  energies  into  the 
Southern  cause,  and  was  so  true  and  faithful  that,  after 
having  been  disabled  for  field  service  by  wounds,  he  was 
promoted  to  be  Major  and  Assistant  Commissary. 

It  would  be  safe  to  say  that  the  College  never  had  a 
warmer  friend  or  a  truer  man  in  its  service  than  he  proved 
himself  to  be  for  over  thirty  years.  He  entered  at  once 
on  the  duties  of  his  chair. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Board  held  in  Baltimore,  March, 
1870,  at  the  session  of  the  Baltimore  Conference,  that 
Conference  was  requested  to  make  an  assessment  to  aid 
the  College,  on  the  same  plan  as  that  adopted  by  the 
Virginia  Conference.  This  the  Conference  agreed  to 
make. 

At  the  annual  meeting,  June,  1870,  the  President  made 
the  annual  report,  which  gave  the  attendance  as  no; 
total  earnings  from  fees  for  the  session,  $5,040.  A  pre- 
paratory school  was  recommended  to  take  charge  of  stu- 
dents unable  to  take  College  courses  ;  recommended  em- 
ployment of  assistants  in  the  departments  of  Mathematics 


202    HISTOR  Y  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE. 

and  Ancient  Languages,  particularly  the  latter,  so  that 
Prof.  Price  might  initiate  the  School  of  English,  as  de- 
scribed in  the  Catalogue.  Reference  was  made  to  the 
old  trouble  of  financial  embarrassment ;  also,  to  his  efforts 
during  the  last  summer's  vacation  to  arouse  interest  in 
the  College,  which  efforts  he  proposed  to  continue  the 
coming  summer  as  far  as  practicable. 


JAME.S  M.   BARROW,   A.    M., 
Superintendent  of  Public  Schools,  Columbus,  Miss. 

The  Executive  Committee  reported  that  they  had  ap- 
pointed as  instructor  in  the  Introductory  Department,  as 
authorized,  Col.  Henry  W.  Wingfield  (A.  M.  Randolph- 
Macon  College),  at  a  salary  not  to  exceed  $800. 

The  Finance  Committee  reported  as  follows :  Liabili- 
ties, $26,475  ;  assets  (outside  of  College  buildings  and 


HISTOR  Y  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE.    203 


lots),  $31,375.  On  some  of  the  bills  payable  a  discount 
•of  12  per  cent,  had  been  charged. 

At  this  meeting  Rev.  W.  E.  Munsey,  D.  D.,  was 
elected  Financial  Secretary.  This  position  Dr.  Munsey 
declined  to  accept. 

Dr.  William  W.  Bennett  resigned  the  place  of  Agent, 
and  Rev.  George  W.  Nolley  was  elected  in  his  place. 


CHARLES  CARROLL,   A.   M.,    lSy2. 
Washington  Hall  RuHcicr. 

On  the  recommendation  of  the  Faculty,  the  following 
degrees  were  conferred:  Master  of  Arts,  on  James  M. 
Barrow,  of  Virginia  ;  Doctor  of  Divinity,  on  Rev.  James 
W.  Wightman,  of  Kentucky. 

Rev.  David  Thomas  was  appointed  as  Agent  to  attend 
to  subscriptions  and  collections  within  the  bounds  of  the 
Baltimore  Conference. 


204    HISTOR  Y  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE. 


Richard  Irby  resigned  the  office  of  Treasurer,  which 
he  had  held  for  two  years,  and  William  Willis,  Jr.,  was 
elected  in  his  stead. 

In  the  third  session  (1870-' 71)  the  effort  to  build  the 
Library  building  for  the  halls  and  libraries  of  the  two 
literary  societies  was  inaugurated.  Up  to  this  time  the 


H.  C.  PAULETT, 

One  of  the  builders  of  Library  Hall. 

two  societies  had  occupied  the  ante-rooms  attached  to 
the  chapel,  which  were  very  cramped  and  inconvenient. 
Who  was  the  first  to  suggest  the  building  of  the  new 
edifice  is  not  known  to  this  writer,  but  it  is  well  known 
who  the  parties  were  who  did  the  main  work  in  raising 
the  funds.  They  were,  on  the  part  of  the  Washington 


HISTORY  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE.    205 

Society,  Charles  Carroll,  of  North  Carolina,  and  H.  C. 
Paulett,  of  Virginia  ;  and  on  the  part  of  the  Franklin 
Society,  William  W.  Smith  and  Jordan  W.  Lambert,  of 
Virginia. 

An  old  alumnus  offered  to  give  to  the  Society  which 
should  raise  the  largest  amount  a  copy  of  Audubon's 
Birds  of  America. 


JORDAN    \V.    LAMBERT, 
Franklin  Hall  Builder. 

This  enterprise  was  prosecuted  with  great  zeal  and 
skill,  and  the  building  devised  by  the  young  men,  let  to 
contract  by  them,  and  paid  for  by  them  (in  most  part), 
went  on  to  completion.  It  was  the  first  brick  building 
ever  erected  on  the  campus,  and  the  first  ever  built  in 
the  town.  More  will  be  said  of  this  in  due  time. 

At  a  called  meeting  of  the  Board,  held  in  Richmond, 


206    HISTORY  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE. 

February,  1871,  the  committee  appointed  to  make  saleol 
the  buildings  and  property  near  Boydton  reported  the 
sale  of  the  same  to  Henry  G.  McGonegal,  of  New  York 
city.  The  sum  of  the  purchase  money  was  $12,500. 
This  included  the  claim  on  the  United  States  govern- 
ment, which  was  transferred  with  the  property  to  the 
purchaser. 

This  sale  was  a  great  sacrifice,  embracing  as  it  did  the 
two  large  College  buildings,  the  Steward's  Hall,  Hotel, 
and  President's  residence,  all  brick  structures,  and,  in 
addition,  the  old  Preparatory  School  building  (also 
brick),  and  three  other  dwellings,  and  several  hundred 
acres  of  land.  But  the  pecuniary  obligations  of  the  Col- 
lege were  heavy  and  pressing,  and  the  rate  of  interest, 
even  on  bonds  secured  by  real  estate,  ten  per  cent.  Under 
these  circumstances,  the  sale  was  ratified,  and  the  Board 
parted  with  the  old  premises,  built,  for  the  most  part,  in 
i83o-'32,  at  a  cost  largely  over  $50,000. 

At  the  annual  meeting  in  June,  1871,  the  President, 
in  his  report,  spoke  in  high  terms  of  the  studiousness 
and  good  deportment  of  the  .students.  The  whole  num- 
ber in  attendance  was  142.  The  prospects  for  further 
increase  were  encouraging. 

Prof.  W.  W.  Valentine  resigned  the  chair  of  Modern 
Languages,  chiefly  on  account  of  delicate  health.  He 
was  a  faithful  officer  and  a  nice  gentleman ;  he  enjoyed 
the  respect  and  regard  of  his  colleagues  and  the  Board. 

Great  embarrassment  had  been  experienced  on  account 
of  want  of  funds  to  meet  promptly  the  salaries  of  the 
Faculty. 

The  appointment  of  a  "  fiscal  executive  officer,  compe- 
tent to  execute  the  plans  of  the  Board,  and  also  to  invent 
schemes  of  his  own  for  obtaining  funds,"  was  strongly 
pressed.  This  recommendation  was  promptly  adopted, 


HISTORY  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE.  [207 

and  a  committee  appointed  to  define  his  duties  and  to 
nominate  a  suitable  man  for  the  place. 

During  the  session  this  committee  made  report,  de- 
fining the  duties  of  the  Financial  Secretary,  and  placing 
all  the  business  matters  and  financial  interests  in  the 
hands  of  said  officer.  He  was  also  to  travel  as  much  as 
practicable  through  the  Conferences  to  influence  patron- 
age, secure  donations  and  bequests,  and  also  to  encourage 


REV.   A.   G.   BROWN,    D.   D. 

the  Conference  educational  collections.     The  salary  of 
the  officer  was  fixed  at  $2,000  per  annum. 

To  fill  the  office  the  committee  nominated  Rev.  A.  G. 
Brown,  of  the  Virginia  Conference.  He  was  not  a 
stranger  to  the  College,  having  served  as  chaplain  there 
in  former  years.  He  was  duly  elected,  and  a  resolution 


2oS    HISTORY  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE. 

adopted  asking  the  Virginia  Conference  to  assign  him  to 
this  work. 

This  was  a  fortunate  appointment.  The  Financial 
Secretary,  after  entering  on  his  duties,  proceeded  promptly 
to  adjust  the  matters  of  the  College,  and  soon  got  them 
into  manageable  shape. 

Prof.  Thomas  R.  Price  appeared  before  the  Board  and 
explained  his  views  in  regard  to  the  ' '  School  of  Eng- 
lish." 

On  motion,  it  was — 

Resolved,  That  the  Faculty  be,  and  they  are  hereby, 
authorized  to  establish,  if  they  find  it  possible,  "a  School 
of  English  and  Literature." 

This  most  important  move  was  on  the  same  general 
plan  adopted  in  1835,  and  carried  out  for  several  years 
by  Prof.  E.  D.  Sims  after  his  return  from  Europe,  where 
he  had  spent  several  years  studying  Anglo-Saxon  and 
other  languages  preparatory  to  this  course. 

It  does  not  seem,  however,  that  Prof.  Price  was  aware 
that  such  a  course  had  been  previously  established,  and 
it  was  as  original  with  him  as  it  was  with  the  first  mover 
in  it.  Fortunately,  in  this  second  movement  it  became 
a  permanent  course,  and  the  influence  of  the  move  has 
spread  far  and  wide. 

LETTER  OF  PROF.  THOMAS  R.  PRICE,  LL.  D. 

"COLUMBIA  UNIVERSITY,  NEW  YORK. 
"Capt.  Richard  Ir by,  Randolph-Macon  College : 

"DEAR  SIR, — The  President  and  Trustees  of  Ran- 
dolph-Macon College,  in  i868-'7o,  deserve,  I  think,  the 
credit  of  having  made  the  boldest  and  wisest  move  in 
education  that  has  taken  place  in  my  time.  Dr.  Dun- 
can, above  all,  so  great  and  wise  in  many  directions, 
was,  in  my  judgment,  the  most  deeply  devoted  and  the 


HISTOR  Y  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE.  209 

most  far-sighted  friend  of  collegiate  education  I  have 
known.  When  made  a  member  of  his  Faculty,  in  1868, 
as  Professor  of  Greek  and  Latin,  I  had,  with  my  large 
classes,  to  struggle  against  great  difficulties  and  grave 
discouragements.  Amid  all  I  had  his  tender  sympathy 
and  wise  and  loving  help.  The  fundamental  difficulty 
of  all  soon  revealed  itself  to  me.  I  was  seeking,  as  all 
instructors  of  Greek  and  Latin  of  that  period  were  seek- 
ing, to  give  a  knowledge  of  the  ancient  languages  to 
boys  and  young  men  that  knew  not  enough  of  their  own 
language  to  receive  it  or  apply  it.  It  was  irrational,  ab- 
surd, almost  criminal,  for  example,  to  expect  a  young 
man,  whose  knowledge  of  English  words  and  construc- 
tion was  scant  and  inexact,  to  put  into  English  a  diffi- 
cult thought  of  Plato  or  an  involved  period  of  Cicero. 
Dr.  Duncan,  to  whom  I  imparted  my  conviction,  shared 
with  me  the  sense  of  the  grave  evil.  Braver  and  more 
hopeful  than  I,  he  bade  me  not  to  despair,  but  to  cut  at 
the  root  of  the  trouble  by  introducing  the  study  of  Eng- 
lish. His  eloquence  and  radical  good  sense  won  the 
majority  of  the  Trustees,  and  the  English  school  was 
founded.  I  had  the  honor,  which  I  prize  highly,  of 
having  been  made  professor  of  English,  giving  up  the 
Latin  to  Dr.  James  A.  Harrison.  I  had  the  duty  laid 
on  me,  by  the  Trustees,  of  drawing  up  the  programme  of 
the  new  course  and  of  selecting  text-books  and  supple- 
menting text-books  by  lectures.  My  plan  was,  through 
the  course  of  five  years,  to  make  the  literary  and  histori- 
cal study  of  our  great  language  go  forward  evenly  bal- 
anced. I  began  with  the  study  of  grammar  and  of  easy 
texts  in  the  preparatory  section,  and  then,  year  after  year, 
thus  formed  in  succession  the  four  college  classes  up  to 
the  Senior  and  graduation.  I  cannot  give  you  the  exact 
dates.  The  struggle  began,  I  think,  in  1869,  and  it  was 


210    HISTOR  Y  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE. 

carried  on  to  full  success  by  1873-' 74.  The  catalogues 
of  the  College  will  give  the  work  and  programme  of 
each  year. 

"  To  Dr.  Duncan,  and  to  the  good  and  wise  men  of  the 
Trustees,  I  am  profoundly  grateful  for  having  used  me  to 
carry  out  the  bold  and  noble  design.  It  was  their  own 
work — not  suggested  from  the  outside  at  all,  imitating 
nothing  that  existed,  springing  from  their  clear  percep- 
tion of  what  education  meant  and  from  their  sense  of 
duty  to  their  church  and  their  people. 

"Yours  very  truly.  THOMAS  R.  PRICE." 

RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE  AND  THE  STUDY  OF 
ENGLISH. 

Prof.  J.  B.  Henneman,  of  the  University  of  Tennes- 
see, writes  as  follows  in  the  Sewanee  Review.  It  is  grati- 
fying that  the  good  work  done  by  Randolph-Macon  is  so 
freely  acknowledged  : 

"It  was  Randolph-Macon  College,  rather  than  the 
State  University  of  Virginia,  though  it  was  the  work  of 
one  of  her  graduates,  that  was  to  have  the  distinction  of 
creating  a  School  of  English  in  the  South  which  should 
send  forth  apostles  with  all  the  fervor  of  converts  and 
enthusiasts.  Randolph-Macon  College  would  have  de- 
served notice  for  devoting  a  separate  chair  to  English 
Literature  as  early  as  1836,  almost  from  its  inception  ; 
and  Edward  Dromgoole  Sims,  a  Master  of  Arts  of  the 
University  of  North  Carolina,  gave  a  course  on  Histori- 
cal English  in  the  year  1839.  He  was  installed  in  that 
year  as  Professor  of  English,  after  a  stay  in  Europe, 
where  he  heard  lectures  on  Anglo-Saxon.  Tradition 
tells  how,  having  no  text-books,  he  used  the  blackboards 
for  his  philological  work.  At  the  end  of  three  years  he 
removed  to  the  University  of  Alabama  in  consequence 


HISTORY  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE.    2  LI 

of  having  contracted  a  marriage  not  then  allowed  under 
the  laws  of  Virginia.  He  was  preparing  a  series  of 
text-books  in  Old  English,  tradition  again  says,  when  he 
died,  in  1845.  Had  he  accomplished  his  purpose,  these 
works  would  have  preceded  Klipstein's  in  point  of  time. 
(Other  occupants'  of  the  chair  of  English  at  Randolph- 
Macon  were  William  M.  Wightman  and  David  S.  Dog- 
gett,  both  afterwards  bishops  in  the  Methodist  Church, 
South.)  It  was  again  at  Randolph-Macon  College 
(though  now  removed  from  Mecklenburg  to  Hanover 
count}7)  that,  immediately  after  the  war,  there  was  founded 
a  distinct  school  of  English,  based  on  historic  and  scien- 
tific principles,  and  productive  of  far-reaching  results.  I 
believe  that  I  am  but  paying  a  worthy  tribute  to  one 
whom  all  his  pupils  have  found  a  helpful  guide  and  in- 
spiring instructor  in  making  the  statement  that  this 
movement  was  mainly  due  to  the  inspiration  and  effort 
of  one  man — Thomas  R.  Price. 

"The  suggestion  of  the  course  of  English  at  Ran- 
dolph-Macon College  sprang  from  the  study  of  the  an- 
cient languages.  The  feeling  existed  that  it  was  impos- 
sible to  expect  appreciation  of  idioms  in  a  foreign  lan- 
guage when  students  knew  nothing  about  those  in  their 
own  tongue.  To  quote  from  Professor  Price's  own  words 
at  the  time  :  '  It  was  irrational,  absurd,  almost  criminal, 
for  example,  to  expect  a  young  man,  whose  knowledge 
of  English  words  and  constructions  was  scant  and  in- 
exact, to  put  into  English  a  difficult  thought  of  Plato  or 
an  involved  period  of  Cicero.'  The  course  pursued  in 
consequence  was  entirely  original  in  its  premises,  and 
endeavored  to  meet  these  difficulties.  Both  the  disease 
and  remedy  were  brought  out  by  the  conditions  present ; 
and  to  this,  I  think,  may  be  ascribed,  in  large  measure, 
the  success  of  the  movement  and  its  value  as  a  stimulus. 


2i2    HISTOR  Y  OF-  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE. 

The  end  set  was  to  place,  in  the  ordinary  college  course, 
the  study  of  English  on  an  equal  footing  with  that  of 
Latin  or  Greek,  giving  it  the  same  time  and  attention, 
aiming  at  the  same  thoroughness,  and  enforcing  the 
same  strictness  of  method.  A  knowledge  of  the  early 
forms  of  English  was  demanded,  not  as  philology  pure 
and  simple,  constituting  an  end  in  itself,  but  as  a  means 
for  acquiring  a  true,  appreciative  knowledge  of  the 
mother  tongue,  and  thereby  for  understanding  its  litera- 
ture and  other  literatures  all  the  more.  It  now  seems 
almost  incredible  that  it  required  so  great  an  effort  at  the 
time  to  take  this  step  or  that  old  traditions  could  become 
so  firmly  crystallized. 

' '  Professor  Price's  efforts  succeeded  all  the  more  easily 
in  that  they  were  seconded  by  his  presiding  officer,  the 
Rev.  Dr.  James  A.  Duncan,  a  man  of  singular  breadth 
and  sympathy  of  mind,  who  had  grouped  about  him, 
irrespective  of  church  and  denominational  ties,  a  band  of 
worthy  associates.  Price,  as  Professor  of  Greek  and 
Latin,  gave  up  the  latter  to  his  colleague,  James  A.  Har- 
rison, who  had  charge  of  the  modern  languages,  and 
taking  control  of  the  English,  developed  it  side  by  side 
with  his  Greek,  so  as  to  cover  a  course  through  four 
continuous  years.  This  was  the  result  of  the  work  of 
two  sessions,  1868-' 70,  The  movement  soon  spread  far 
and  wide.  Other  institutions,  impelled  by  the  same 
needs,  either  imitated  it  outright — some  of  them  actually 
going  so  far  as  always  to  unite  the  English  department 
with  the  Greek,  as  if  there  were  some  subtle  virtue  in 
the  connection  (building  possibly  even  wiser  than  they 
knew) — or  developed  out  of  their  own  necessities  similar 
arrangements. 

"After  the  men  at  Randolph- Macon  had  been  drilled 
in  the  rudiments  and  given  their  primary  inspiration, 


HISTORY  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE.    213 

many  of  them  were  dispatched  to  Europe  for  further 
training,  and  returned  Doctors  of  Leipzig  and  fired  with 
a  new  zeal.  In  mere  appearances,  it  should  seem  as  if 
this  Randolph- Macon  migration  to  Leipzig  was  the  begin- 
ning of  the  attraction  exerted  by  that  University  on 
young  Southern  scholars,  an  attraction  which  has  been 
rivalled  in  recent  years  only  by  that  of  the  neighboring 
Johns  Hopkins.  The  land  lay  open  before  these  young 
men,  and  they  proceeded  to  occupy  it.  Robert  Sharp 
returned  Doctor  from  Leipzig,  and  was  soon  called  to 
Tulane ;  William  M.  Baskervill  returned  Doctor  from 
Leipzig,  and  started  an  impulse  at  Wofford  College, 
South  Carolina,  which  he  broadened  and  deepened  after 
his  transfer,  in  1881,  to  Vanderbilt ;  Robert  Emory 
Blackwell  returned  from  Leipzig  and  succeeded  Professor 
Price  in  his  work  at  Randol ph- Macon ;  Frank  C.  Wood- 
ward succeeded  Baskervill  at  Wofford  in  1881,  and  re- 
moved to  the  South  Carolina  College  in  1887  ;  W.  A. 
Frantz  has  built  up  a  following  in  Central  College,  Mis- 
souri ;  John  R.  Ficklen,  having  followed  Dr.  Price  to  the 
State  University,  has  become  associated  with  Sharp  at 
Tulane.  The  English  fever  at  Randolph-Macon  became 
epidemic.  Dr.  James  A.  Harrison  accepted  a  call,  in 
1876,  to  Washington  and  Lee  as  Professor  of  Modern 
Languages,  and  formed  a  new  Virginian  centre  for  spe- 
cialists. Even  Price's  successor  in  the  Greek  chair  at 
Randolph-Macon,  Charles  Morris,  soon  resigned  to  go  to 
the  University  of  Georgia  as  Professor  of  English.  Nor 
has  the  manufacture  of  Randolph-Macon  professors  of 
English  ever  entirely  ceased.  Howard  Edwards,  for- 
merly of  the  University  of  Kansas;  J.  L.  Armstrong, 
late  of  Trinity  College,  North  Carolina,  and  now  of  the 
Randolph-Macon  Woman's  College ;  John  D.  Epes,  of 
St.  John's  College,  Maryland  ;  John  Lesslie  Hall,  Ph.  D. 


2i4    HISTORY  OF  RANDOLP  H-MACON  COLLEGE. 

(Johns  Hopkins),  of  William  and  Mary,  are  later  acces- 
sions to  a  list  by  no  means  complete. 

"  It  is  very  curious  to  trace  these  various  ramifications 
of  mutual  influences,  and  to  see  them  acting  and  inter- 
acting, crossing  and  recrossing.  Three  main  lines  may 
be  detected.  Just  as  the  University  of  Virginia,  through 
its  graduates,  became  the  pattern  for  many,  especially 
State  institutions,  and  Hampden-Sidney,  Davidson,  Cen- 
tral, and,  particularly,  Presbyterian  colleges,  felt  the 
influence  of  the  course  at  Washington  and  Lee ;  so  Ran- 
dolph-M  aeon  affected,  among  others,  Wofford,  and  then 
Vanderbilt,  which,  in  turn,  has  become  a  new  centre  of 
activity. 

"The  transmission  of  this  spirit  to  Wofford  College, 
and  thence  to  Vanderbilt  University  at  Nashville,  is  pe- 
culiarly instructive.  W.  M.  Baskervill,  trained  under 
Price  and  Harrison,  and  in  Leipzig,  came  to  Wofford  in 
1876,  where  he  met  with  a  sympathetic  circle.  The 
president,  Dr.  James  H.  Carlisle,  had  always  been  inter- 
ested in  English  work,  and  was  a  close  student  of  the 
history  and  meaning  of  words.  Charles  Foster  Smith 
was  fellow-professor  with  Baskervill,  and  James  H. 
Kirkland,  first  an  appreciative  pupil,  was  afterwards  col- 
league as  Smith's  successor.  All  three  of  these  young 
scholars  ultimately  took  their  degrees  in  Leipzig,  and 
were  called  to  Vanderbilt  University,  of  which  Dr.  Kirk- 
land  is  the  newly-elected  Chancellor.  The  English  lan- 
guage and  letters  have  been  steadily  emphasized  by  the 
close  sympathies  uniting  these  three  men  in  their  com- 
mon work  in  the  department  of  languages.  Kirkland's 
Leipzig  dissertation  was  on  an  English  subject,  though 
he  is  now  professor  .of  Latin  ;  Smith,  the  professor  of 
Greek,  has  been  a  constant  contributor  on  English  points, 
and  Baskervill  is  specifically  professor  in  charge. 


HISTOR  Y  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE.    215 


Through  the  standard  which  their  fortunate  circum- 
stances allowed  them  to  set,  a  new  centre  of  influence 
has  been  formed  in  Nashville. 

' '  It  was  this  Wofford  influence,  if  I  may  be  personal 
for  a  space,  that  had  much  to  do  with  sending  me  to  the 
University  of  Virginia  to  hear  Price  in  Greek.  And  I 


REV.  JOHN   HANNON,   A.   M.,    I)     I)., 
Ukiali,  California. 

but  echo  the  feeling  of  many  in  Professor  Price's  class- 
room, that  it  was  hard  to  know  to  which  of  the  two 
languages  his  class  leaned  the  more,  Greek  or  English, 
so  intimately  upon  one  another,  especially  in  the  work  of 
translating,  did  the  two  depend.  At  any  rate,  it  is  sin- 
gular that  his  pupils,  stirred  by  the  Greek,  just  as  at 
Randolph- Macon,  have  used  this  classical  impulse  to 


2i6    HISTORY  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE. 

enter  upon  the  keener  study  of  their  native  language  and 
literature.  I  was  privileged  to  be  in  the  last  Greek  class 
which  Professor  Price  taught  at  the  University  of  Vir- 
ginia ;  and  contemporaneous  with  me  at  the  University 
were  other  pupils:  Charles  W.  Kent,  Ph.  D.,  of  Leip- 
zig, just  returned  to  his  Alma  Mater  as  Linden  Kent 
Professor  of  English  Literature ;  James  Douglas  Bruce, 
of  Bryn  Mawr,  Pennsylvania,  and  the  editor  of  this  Re- 
view. Eventually  Professor  Price's  strong  predilections 
for  English,  and  the  memory  of  the  work  wrought  while 
at  Randolph -Macon,  led,  in  1882,  to  his  acceptance  of  a 
call  to  the  chair  of  English  in  Columbia  College,  New 
York,  a  change  which,  in  the  face  of  all  he  had  accom- 
plished at  the  South,  many  of  his  old  pupils  were  selfish 
enough  to  regard  with  regret." 

On  the  recommendation  of  the  Faculty,  the  degree  of 
A.  M.  was  conferred  on  John  Hannon,  of  Alabama,  and 
William  Waugh  Smith,  of  Virginia. 

The  vacant  chair  of  Modern  Languages  was  filled  by 
the  election  of  Mr.  James  A.  Harrison,  of  New  Orleans. 
This  officer  proved  to  be  a  valuable  accession  to  the 
Faculty,  and  his  success  at  Randolph- Macon  was  the 
prophecy  of  further  success  at  Washington  and  Lee  Uni- 
versity, and  the  University  of  Virginia,  where  he  is  at 
this  writing. 

In  regard  to  the  enterprise  referred  to  at  the  last  an- 
nual meeting,  the  Board  adopted  the  following  resolu- 
tions : 

"Whereas  suitable  halls  for  the  literary  societies  of  this 
College  are  imperatively  necessary  in  the  work  of  this 
institution  ;  and  whereas  the  Washington  and  Franklin 
Literary  Societies  have  taken  this  enterprise  in  hand 
with  commendable  zeal  and  liberality  :  therefore, 

"Resolved,   I.  That  we  gratefully  recognize  the  efforts 


HISTOK  V  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE.    217 

of  the  young  gentlemen  in  projecting  and  prosecuting 
this  enterprise. 

"II.  That  we  consider  the  success  which  has  already 
attended  their  efforts  as  a  gratifying  evidence  of  the 
speedy  completion  of  the  work. 

' '  III.  That  we  commend  this  enterprise  and  the  young 
gentlemen  engaged  in  it  to  the  liberality  of  all  the  friends 
of  this  College  and  the  cause  of  liberal  education. 


PROF.  J.   A.    HARRISON,   M.   A.,  LL.   D. 

"IV.  That  we  pledge  our  hearty  co-operation  in  this 
work  in  every  way  in  our  power." 

At  the  close  of  the  college  year  ending  June,  1872,  the 
following  items  of  interest  were  reported  to.  the  Board  at 
the  annual  meeting  : 

The  Richmond,  Fredericksburg  and  Potomac  Railroad 


218    HISTORY  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE. 

Company  conveyed  to  the  Board  of  Trustees  a  tract  of 
land  lying  on  the  south  of  the  line  of  said  railroad,  near 
what  was  called  the  Club  House,  containing  about  twenty 
acres,  ' '  on  condition  that  the  Trustees  erect  on  the  said 
land  permanent  college  buildings  within  fifteen  years 
after  the  date  of  conveyance,  and  that  the  deed  shall  con- 
tain the  prohibition  of  the  sale  of  ardent  spirits  without  the 
written  consent  af  said  company." 

This  was  considered  to  have  been  a  better  location  for 
college  buildings  than  the  first  occupied,  and  the  project 
might  have  been  carried  out  but  for  want  of  means  to 
erect  the  buildings. 

The  Financial  Agent  further  reported  the  need  of  addi- 
tional college  buildings  on  account  of  increased  attend- 
ance of  students.  The  number  in  attendance  the  past 
session  was  167,  being  25  more  than  any  previous  ses- 
sion at  Ashland.  Amount  of  fees,  $7,652.30;  amount 
remitted  to  privileged  students,  $6,182.50;  amount  re- 
ceived from  the  Virginia  and  Baltimore  Conferences, 
$2,682.33.  This  was  a  gratifying  result. 

Available  assets, $58,729  65 

Assets  not  now  available, 24,603  67 


Total, $83,333  32 

Liabilities, 23,216  49 

Resolutions  commending  the  Agent  for  his  work  were 
adopted,  and  pledging  the  support  of  the  Board  to  him  in 
his  work. 

The  absence  of  the  two  oldest  members  of  the  Board, 
viz.,  Bishop  John  Early  and  D'Arcy  Paul,  Esq.,  on  ac- 
count of  age  and  feebleness,  were  noted  by  suitable  reso- 
lutions. 

President  Duncan,  in  his  annual  report,  said:  "  It  is 
specially  gratifying  that  I  can  congratulate  the  Board  on 
the  plan  of  fiscal  management  adopted  at  your  last  meet- 


HISTOR  Y  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE.    219 

ing.  The  experience  of  the  last  twelve  months  has 
demonstrated  the  wisdom  of  your  action,  and  the  same 
illustrating  your  good  fortune  in  securing  an  officer 
whose  efficiency  in  a  most  laborious  task  merits  your 
high  commendation.  .  .  .  '.  The  large  number  of  stu- 
dents have  been  generally  studious  and  well  behaved,  a 
large  proportion  of  them  are  Christians,  and  thirty-two 
are  candidates  for  the  ministry.  During  the  year  the 
reputation  of  the  College  has  extended,  and  its  patronage 
steadily  increased.  Both  the  patronizing  Conferences 
manifest  increasing  interest  in  the  College." 

The  degree  of  A.  M.,  on  recommendation  of  the  Fac- 
ulty, was  conferred  on  Charles  Carroll,  of  North  Caro- 
lina. 

Mr.  Jordan  W.  Lambert,  on  behalf  of  the  Building 
Committee  of  the  Literary  Societies,  reported  the  Hall 
building  as  completed,  at  a  cost  of  $12,954.40,  on  which 
the  committee  had  raised  $7,093.30,  leaving  a  balance 
still  due,  $5,861.10. 

A  committee  appointed  to  consider  this  report  sub- 
mitted the  following  : 

"Your  committee,  after  a  full  conference  with  the 
committee  of  the  two  Societies,  submit  a  proposition 
made  by  them  to  secure  from  the  Board  of  Trustees  the 
necessary  amount  to  discharge  the  existing  obligations 
of  the  Societies,  which  proposition  is  made  the  basis  of 
this  report,  and  is  most  heartily  recommended  to  the 
favorable  consideration  of  the  Board. 

"  It  may  be  proper  to  state,  in  connection  with  this  re- 
port, that  the  committee  submitted  in  detail  the  accounts 
with  the  various  persons  from  whom  they  had  secured 
material,  both  by  donation  and  purchase,  and  also  the 
correspondence  with  various  friends  of  education  both 
North  and  South,  all  of  which  was  most  gratifying  to 


220    HISTOR  Y  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE. 

your  committee,  as  they  exhibited  on  their  face  the  evi- 
dence of  great  energy,  system,  and  tact,  which  not  only 
reflects  credit  on  themselves,  but  also  on  the  Societies 
represented  by  the  committee  as  well  as  the  College  itself. 

"  In  consideration  of  the' foregoing  facts,  we  offer  for 
adoption  the  following  resolution  : 

' '  Resolved,  That  the  proper  officers  of  the  College  pro- 
ceed at  once  to  raise  $5,700,  and  if  it  be  necessary,  they 
be  authorized  to  create  a  lien  upon  the  property  referred 
to,  to  secure  the  payment  of  principal  and  interest,  and 
the  Financial  Secretary  be  instructed  to  pass  over  the 
amount  thus  raised  to  the  Building  Committee,  to  be 
used  by  them  in  liquidating  the  obligations  created  in 
the  erection  o£  the  hall." 

Accompanying  this  report  was  the  following  paper : 

"  ASHLAND,  V A.,  fane  27,  1872. 

"In  consideration  of  $5,700  to  be  advanced  by  the 
Board  of  Trustees  of  Randolph- Macon  College,  the  Wash- 
ington and  Franklin  Societies  will  undertake  and  pledge 
themselves  to  use  their  best  efforts  to  pay  $1,000  annually 
upon  the  principal  until  the  whole  amount  is  liquidated, 
interest  to  be  paid  by  the  Board  of  Trustees.  It  is  un- 
derstood and  agreed  that  if  the  Board  of  Trustees  should 
find  it  necessary  to  create  a  lien  upon  the  property  to 
raise  the  amount  so  advanced,  they  will  not  in  any  way 
bind  the  furniture  of  the  two  Societies. 

(Signed)     "T.  W.  LAMBERT,         ^ 

,t,    „    TTT  f     Committee 

"F.  C.  WOODWARD,     > 

,,~      _,     ~  V  /*..£».   «J. 

R.  E.  BLACKWELL,     ) 
"CHARLES  CARROLL,  -i 

"HERBERT  M.  HOPE, 

Committee 
"W.  B.  PAGE,  ,, 

"H.  C.  PAULETT, 
"JOHN  M.  BURTON, 


TSTOR  Y  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE.    221 

Fo  show  the  appreciation  of  the  work  done  by  the  So- 
cieties, the  Board,  on  motion  of  Rev.  A.  W.  Wilson, 
adopted  the  following : 

' '  Resolved,  That  the  President  be  instructed  to  express 
in  the  chapel,  during  the  public  exercises  of  the  day, 
the  Board's  appreciation  of  the  energy  and  zeal  of  the 
Literary  Societies  in  the  erection  of  the  Library  building, 
and  that  the  Secretary  furnish  the  Societies  with  a  copy 
of  the  action  of  the  Board. ' ' 

In  the  chapel  the  same  day  Maj.  Sutherlin  pledged  the 
Board  to  a  subscription  of  $500  towards  the  Library  Hall. 

The  above  record  in  relation  to  this  worthy  and  re- 
markable effort — one  that  has  found  few,  if  any,  parallels 
in  the  history  of  colleges — is  given  at  some  length  to 
show  the  spirit  of  the  young  men  of  the  period  succeed- 
ing the  war,  and  also  to  stimulate  a  like  spirit  in  the 
young  men  who  are  now  filling  these  halls  and  others 
after  them.  Such  an  example  seems  to  be  needed  at 
this  time  to  rekindle  the  interest  in  these  most  worthy 
Societies,  which  is  not  as  great  as  it  formerly  was,  and 
as  it  should  be. 

At  this  meeting  Major  William  T.  Sutherlin,  of  Dan- 
ville, who  had  manifested  his  interest  in  the  College  by 
agreeing  to  pay  three  hundred  dollars  annually  towards 
the  current  expenses  of  the  College  for  five  years,  sub- 
mitted the  following  proposition  : 

"  To  the  Board  of  Trustees  of  Randolph-Macou  College: 

' '  I  propose  to  place  in  your  hands  good  eight  per  cent, 
securities  to  the  amount  of  four  hundred  dollars  ($400), 
the  interest  to  be  collected  by  you,  and  invested  in  a 
suitable  medal,  to  be  presented  at  each  annual  com- 
mencement to  the  best  orator  •  connected  with  the  college 
who  shall  contend  for  the  same,  to  be  decided  by  three 
competent  judges  who  have  no  official  connection  with 


222    HISTOR  Y  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE. 

the  College,  to  be  selected  by  yourselves,  whose  decision 
shall  be  final.  The  fund  hereby  donated  shall  be  held 
by  you  and  appropriated  to  the  above  purpose  in  per- 
petuity, and  to  no  other.  Respectfully, 

(Signed)  "W.  T.  SUTHERLIN." 

On  motion  of  Rev.  A.  W.  Wilson — 

' '  Resolved,  That  the  proposition  be  accepted,  and  that 
the  thanks  of  the  Board  be  returned  to  Major  Sutherlin 
for  the  generous  donation,  and  that  the  medal  be  styled 
the  Sutherlin  Prize  Medal  for  Oratory. ' ' 

Rev.  A.  G.  Brown,  Financial  Secretary,  made  the  fol- 
lowing review  of  the  financial  operations  of  the  year  : 

"  i.  That  the  current  expenses  of  this  session  have 
been  promptly  and  fully  paid  to  June  ist. 

"2.  That  means  are  in  hand  to  meet  obligations  to 
July  i  st. 

"3.  That  we  rely  principally  upon  the  assessments 
and  special  donations  to  the  College  for  the  succeeding 
three  months. 

' '  4  That  the  assets  of  the  College  have  been  improved 
in  value  and  in  the  amount  of  interest  they  yield. 

"5.  That  the  liabilities  have  been  materially  reduced. 

"6.  That  the  financial  interests  of  the  College  are 
freed  from  legal  or  legislative  embarrassments. 

"These  are  gratifying  results.  I  mention  them  for 
your  infor-mation  and  encouragement.  They  are  the 
sign  of  a  better" day.  Let  us  consecrate  ourselves  to  this 
noble^  institution,  and,  with  the  blessing  of  God  on  our 
duty  faithfully  performed,  we  may  expect  to  see  it  what 
it  ought  to  be  in  the  scope  of  its  usefulness  and  the  de- 
velopment of  its  resources,  a  strictly  first-class  College.  .  . 

(Signed)         "A.  G.  BROWN, 
"  Financial  Secretary  Randolph- Mac  on  College." 


G.  E.  M.  WALTON, 

Founder  of  the  Walton  Greek  Library. 


MAJ.  W.  T.  SUTHERLIN,  ELECTFD  TRUSTBF,  1860. 
Founder  of  the  Suthcrlin  Prize  for  Oratory. 


HISTOR  Y  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE.    223 

This  gratifying  report,  the  best  that  had  been  submit- 
ted for  years,  caused  the  Trustees  to  adjourn  in  a  cheer- 
ful mood. 

A  called  meeting  of  the  Board  was  held  in  Richmond 
October  13,    1872.     A  letter  was  presented  from  Prof. 
Thomas  R.  Price,  which  was  as  follows  : 
"Rev.  James  A.  Duncan,  President: 

"  DEAR  SIR, — As  Professor  of  Greek  in  our  College,  I 
feel  great  pleasure  in  informing  you,  and  through  you 
the  Board,  of  the  noble  act  of  generosity  by  which  Mr. 
George  E.  M.  Walton,  of  Hanover  county,  Va.,  has  plan- 
ned a  lasting  benefit  to  the  School  of  Greek. 

"  Mr.  Walton  was,  as  you  know,  the  father  of  Mr. 
Andrew  Minor  Walton,  who,  with  rare  learning  and 
diligence,  discharged  until  his  death,  in  September,  1871, 
the  duties  of  Assistant  Greek  Professor  in  Randolph- 
Macon  College.  In  order,  then,  to  foster  in  the  College 
the  studies  that  his  son  loved  so  well,  and  at  the  same 
time  to  keep  alive  in  the  College  history  and  traditions 
the  memory  of  that  son,  Mr.  Walton  has  offered  to  give 
to  Randolph- Macon  College  the  sum  of  one  thousand 
dollars  to  create  and  endow  what  shall  be  called  the 
Walton  Greek  Library.  This  donation  Mr.  Walton  de- 
sires to  see,  without  delay,  put  into  the  proper  legal 
form.  His  own  wishes  and  intentions,  as  given  to  me 
in  conversation,  are : 

"i.  That  the  money  shall,  in  consultation  between 
him  and  the  agents  of  the  College,  be  securely  and  per- 
manently invested. 

"2.  That  ten  dollars  of  the  annual  income  shall  be 
used  to  buy,  in  the  shape  of  a  valuable  Greek  book,  or 
other  appropriate  gift,  as  the  Faculty  may  decide,  a  prize 
that  shall  be  called  the  Walton  Greek  Prize,  and  be- 
stowed on  the  student  that,  in  the  judgment  of  the  Fac- 


224    HISTORY  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE. 

ulty,  has  made  during  the  session  the  best  progress  in 
Greek  studies. 

•'3.  That  the  remainder  of  the  income  arising  from  the 
investment  of  the  fund  shall  be  annually  expended,  under 
such  regulations  as  the  Board  and  Faculty  may  estab- 
lish, in  the  purchase  of  Greek  books,  including  the  texts 
of  Greek  authors,  Greek  lexicons,  Commentaries  on 
Greek  authors,  works  on  Greek  history,  Geography, 
Grammar,  antiquities,  etc.,  and  all  direct  auxiliaries  to 
Greek  study,  to  form  a  special  and  distinct  collection,  to 
be  called  the  Walton  Greek  Library. 

"4.  That  this  Library  shall  be  carefully  guarded  by 
the  College  authorities  and  secure  adequate  protection 
from  theft  and  fire. 

"There  is  visible  in  this  act  of  Mr.  Walton  no  less 
wisdom  than  of  generosity  and  tenderness.  The  helps 
to  the  successful  carrying  on  of  Greek  study  are  becom- 
ing year  by  year  more  numerous  and  more  masterly,  but, 
unluckily,  more  costly,  too.  To  use  them  is  indeed  ne- 
cessary for  every  earnest  student,  but  to  buy  them  is 
oft-times  to  the  student  impossible.  To  meet  this  neces- 
sity is  the  object  of  Mr.  Walton's  gift,  while  his  prize 
will  serve  to  stimulate  and  reward  Greek  study ;  in  all 
the  classes  of  our  school  the  Library  will,  year  after  year, 
as  it  widens,  open  to  students  that  are  more  advanced 
the  treasures  of  Greek  learning. 

"  Being  sure  that  you  will  feel  the  same  pleasure  that 
I  feel  in  this  wisely-devised  increase  to  our  means  of 
education,  I  ask  you  to  make  Mr.  Walton's  purpose 
known  to  the  Board,  and  to  have  the  proper  measures 
taken  for  the  consummation  of  the  gift. 

"With  great  respect,  your  obedient  servant, 

"THOMAS  R.  PRICE, 

"Professorof  Greek." 


HISTOR  Y  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE.    225 

The  donation  of  Mr.  Walton  was  accepted  with  thanks, 
and  an  order  was  made  to  carry  out  his  intentions  as 
speedily  as  possible. 

It  may  be  stated  here  that  this  fund  was  safely  in- 
vested, and  the  annual  proceeds,  from  the  year  of  its 
establishment,  have  been  applied,  as  directed,  in  annual 
prizes  and  the  purchase  of  books,  until,  at  this  writing, 
the  collection  has  become  imposing  and  very  valuable. 
The  first  prize  was  awarded  June,  1872,  to  R.  E.  Black- 
well,  of  Virginia. 

The  College  year  1872-73  was  remarkable  in  the 
patronage  and  financial  outcome.  The  number  of  stu- 
dents was  234,  the  largest  in  the  history  of  the  College 
up  to  that  year.  The  receipts  for  fees  amounted  to 
$11,220:  Conference  educational  collections,  $3,411. 
The  excess  of  current  receipts  over  current  expenses  re- 
ported, for  the  first  time  in  the  history  of  the  College, 
went  towards  needed  improvements  of  the  property  and 
reduction  of  debts  of  other  years.  Available  assets  were 
reported  at  $74,610;  liabilities,  $26,377 — net  assets, 
$48,233.  This  exhibit,  made  by  Rev.  A.  G.  Brown, 
Financial  Secretary,  was  highly  gratifying  to  the  Board, 
so  long  accustomed  to  discouraging  reports. 

Of  the  234  students,  44  were  studying  with  a  view  to 
the  ministry,  and  29  sons  of  ministers. 

The  honorary  degree  of  D.  D.,  on  recommendation  of 
the  Faculty,  was  conferred  on  the  following  :  Rev.  John 
C.  Wills,  president  of  Central  College,  Missouri ;  Rev. 
Alpheus  W.  Wilson,  of  the  Baltimore  Conference;  Rev. 
John  D.  Blackwell,  of  the  Virginia  Conference. 

The  degree  of  A.  M.  was  conferred  on  Franklin  C. 
Woodward,  of  Virginia. 

The    "  Sutherlin    Medal    for   Oratory"    was   awarded 
Franklin  C.  Woodward,  of  Virginia. 
15 


226    HISTOR  Y  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE. 

The  "Walton  Greek  Prize"  was  awarded  to  Robert 
Sharp,  of  Virginia. 

An  educational  convention  to  devise  plans  to  increase 
the  Endowment  and  Building  funds  of  the  College  was 
held  in  Richmond,  April,  1874.  The  following  plan  was 
adopted : 


FRANKLIN  C.   WOODWARD,   A.   M.,  D.   D., 
Sutherlin  Medalist,  1873 ;  President  South  Carolina.  College. 

"I.  That  delegates  shall  be  appointed  (by  the  com- 
mittee under  item  III.),  consisting  of  one  layman  and 
one  preacher  in  each  district,  whose  duty  it  shall  be  to 
present  the  subject  to  the  several  District  Conferences  at 
their  meetings  during  the  summer  and  fall  of  this  year, 
and  take  up  collections  for  this  object,  and  that  the  pre- 
siding elders  be  requested  to  arrange  the  exercises  of 
their  district  meetings  so  as  to  secure  one  whole  day  for 
the  interests  of  Randolph-Macon  College. 


HISTOR  Y  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE.    227 

"  II.  That  we  earnestly  solicit  the  co-operation  of  the 
presiding  elders  in  this  great  work,  and  request  the  ap- 
pointment of  meetings  in  the  several  pastoral  charges,  in 
which  this  cause  shall  be  presented  and  collections  taken. 


PROF.   W.   M.   BASKERVILLE,   PH.   D., 
I'anderbiit  University, 

"III.  That  a  committee  be  appointed,  who  shall  at- 
tend these  meetings,  take  up  collections,  etc." 

(Committee:  Rev.  J.  A.  Duncan,  D.  D.,  Rev.  A.  G. 
Brown,  and  Richard  Irby,  Esq.) 

It  was  resolved  that  a  committee  be  appointed  to  ma- 
ture a  plan  for  the  further  prosecution  of  this  work,  and 
report  to  an  adjourned  meeting  at  Ashland  in  June,  1874. 

It  was  resolved  that  any  contributor  of  $20,000  shall 
have  the  privilege  of  naming  a  professorship  in  the  Col- 
lege. 


228    HISTOR  V  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE. 


It  does  not  appear  on  the  record  that  any  direct  and 
decided  benefit  resulted  from  this  convention,  but  it  kept 
the  subject  before  the  people,  and  doubtless  bore  good 
fruit  in  after  times. 

At  the  annual  meeting,  June,  1874,  it  was  found  that, 


t&^f      "•' 


JOHN  T.   MOORE, 
Of  the  I'irginia  Conference :  Sutherlin  Medalist,  1874. 

by  inadvertence,  the  amendment  to  the  charter  approved 
April  9,  1874,  contained  a  clause  which  read  as  follows  : 
"  §  14.  That  the  said  Board  of  Trustees  shall  never  be 
less  than  twenty -four  nor  more  than  forty-four,  one  of 
whom  shall  be  elected  by  the  Board  president  thereof; 
provided,  also,  that  no  member  of  the  Faculty  or  Board 
of  Instruction  in  the  College  shall  be  a  member  of  the 
Board  of  Trustees." 


Trustee  18413      President  Board  of  Trustees  /S~. 


HISTORY  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE.    229 

This  vacated  the  office  of  the  president  of  the  Board, 
inasmuch  as  Dr.  Duncan  was  a  member  of  the  Faculty. 
Steps  were  taken  to  have  the  above  clause  stricken  out 
by  the  Legislature. 

.  To  the  office  thus  vacated  Thomas  Branch,  Esq.,  of 
Richmond,  Va.,  was  elected.  He  was  the  only  layman 
ever  elected  to  that  office. 


GEORGE  MERRITT  NOLLEY,  A.  M. 

Mr.  Branch  had  been  a  trustee  for  thirty  years.  He 
was  one  of  the  most  zealous  and  constant  friends  the 
College  had.  His  donations  to  the  College  had  been  fre- 
quent and  liberal.  He  had  been  largely  instrumental  in 
having  the  College  moved  to  Ashland.  Recognizing 
the  faithful  service  and  devotion  of  Mr.  Branch  to  the 
College,  the  Board  thus  unanimously  elected  him  presi- 
dent. At  the  same  time  Rev.  Alpheus  W.  Wilson,  of 


23o   HISTORY  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE. 

the  Baltimore  Conference,  was  unanimously  elected  vice- 
president. 

The  attendance  of  students  for  the  closing  year  had 
been  235,  one  in  excess  of  the  previous  year's  number. 

In  the  record  of  this  year  the  regular  report  of  the 
President  and  Faculty  is  not  found,  though  doubtless  one 
was  made. 

On  the  recommendation  of  the  Faculty,  the  following 
degrees  were  conferred  : 

A.  M. — George  Merritt  Nolley,  of  Virginia ;  Robert 
Emory  Blackwell,  of  Virginia. 

D.  D. — Rev.  C.  Green  Andrews,  of  Mississippi ;  Rev. 
William  A.  Harris,  President  of  the  Wesleyan  Female 
Institute,  Staunton,  Va. 

On  motion  of  Rev.  J.  C.  Granbery,  the  following  was 
adopted : 

"  Whereas,  since  the  last  annual  meeting  of  the  Board  the 
venerated  Bishop  John  Early,  for  many  years  the  president 
of  the  Board,  has  been  taken  from  us  by  death  :  therefore, 

' '  Resolved,  That  in  the  death  of  Bishop  John  Early 
the  College  has  lost  one  of  its  most  zealous,  faithful  and 
useful  friends,  and  the  Board  of  Trustees  one  of  its  most 
honored  and  efficient  members. ' ' 

His  term  of  service  (1830-1874)  was  the  longest  on 
record. 

The  School  of  English,  under  Prof.  Price,  had  shown 
"great  progress,  and  had  become  the  most  popular  of  all 
in  the  College,  evidenced  by  the  fact  that  out  of  235  stu- 
dents, 191  took  the  English  course. 

The  report  of  the  Financial  Secretary  gave  the  follow- 
ing items  : 

Assets, $72,496  47 

Liabilities 21,538  12 

Net  balance .$50,958  35 


HISTOR  Y  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE.   231 

This  exhibit  of  the  finances  was  particularly  favorable 
and  gratifying  when  it  is  remembered  that  the  country 
had  in  the  past  year  passed  through  one  of  the  severest 
financial  panics  ever  known,  a  panic  whose  withering 
effects  on  business  did  not  cease  for  many  years.  The 
College,  in  common  with  all  other  enterprises  requiring 
the  use  of  money,  felt  the  effects  of  it,  and  it  might  be 
said  that  it  felt  it  for  nearly  a  score  of  years. 

A  called  meeting  of  the  Board  was  held  in  Richmond 
during  the  session  of  the  Virginia  Conference,  Novem- 
ber, 1874.  This  meeting  was  held  to  bring  the  College 
more  particularly  to  the  attention  of  the  Conference  with 
a  view  of  enlisting  its  members  in  a  hearty  effort  to 
raise  $50,000,  to  be  used  in  increasing  the  facilities 
of  the  College,  specially  in  buildings  and  appara- 
tus. 

The  action  of  the  Trustees  was  laid  before  the  Confer- 
ence, and  the  following  action  was  taken  thereon  : 

"  i .  That  we  will  seek  to  raise  within  the  bounds  of 
the  Virginia  Conference  $50,000  for  the  College,  to  be 
expended  in  the  erection  of  suitable  buildings  under  the 
direction  of  the  Board. 

"2.  That  the  Joint  Board  of  Finance  apportion  this 
amount  among  the  districts  of  the  Conference. 

"3.  That  all  the  preachers  be  solicited  to  do  their 
utmost  to  secure  the  full  amounts  apportioned  to  their 
respective  districts." 

At  the  annual  meeting  of  the  Board,  held  June,  1875, 
the  announcement  was  made  of  the  death  of  two  of  its 
most  useful  and  venerable  members,  viz.,  D'Arcy  Paul, 
of  Petersburg,  and  Rev.  Henry  B.  Cowles,  of  the  Vir- 
ginia Conference. 

It  would  be  meet  and  right  to  give  the  tributes  paid  to 
these  Trustees,  so  worthy  of  them,  if  space  allowed. 


232    HISTORY  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE. 

The  first   had   served    most   faithfully    for  a  period  of 
thirty-five  years,  and  the-  other  thirty-three. 

The  annual  report  of  the  Financial  Secretary  was  not 
so  satisfactory  as  to.  current  receipts,  the  number  of  stu- 
dents at  the  College  having  fallen  down  to  215,  instead 
of  235.  There  had  been  deficiencies  in  other  items. 
All  these  deficiences  were  caused,  in  the  main,  by  the 
financial  condition  of  the  country,  which  was  so  sadly 
affected  by  the  panic  of  1873.  There  were  some  cheer  - 


JAMES  B.  PACE, 
Trustee^  and  Founder  of  race  Hail. 

ing  signs,  however,  to  offset  these  deficiencies.  The 
largest  donation  ever  made  to  the  College  up  to  this  time 
had  been  received  the  past  year.  This  was  made  by 
Mr.  James  B.  Pace,  of  Richmond,  Va.,  viz.,  $10,000  in 
Virginia  State  bonds.  This  was  given  to  build  the  Pace 


HISTOR  Y  OF  RANDOLPH  MACON  COLLEGE.    233 

Lecture  Hall,  a  building  so  much  needed,  and  which  is 
now,  and  will  be  for  years  to  come,  a  monument  to  the 
liberal  donor. 

Another  donation  of  $5,000  was  made  by  the  old  and 
fast  friend  of  the  College,  Thomas  Branch,  president  of 
the  Board;  by  others,  $808.50— total,  $15,808.50. 


PACE  HALL. 

The  financial  statement  for  this  year  is  given  in  the 
comparative  statement  furnished  by  the  Financial'Secre- 
tary  in  his  annual  report : 

•    Assets.  Liabilities.  Balance. 

1872, $58,729  65  $23,216  49  $35,513  16 

1873 74.6n   13  26,377  14  48,233  99 

1874 -.    .    .    .  72,496  47  31,538  12  50,958  35 

1875, 91,660  78  20,974  36  70,686  42 

Increase,  995  per  cent. 

The  degree  of  Master  of  Arts  was  conferred  on  John 
W.  Redd,  of  Virginia. 

Rev.  A.  G.  Brown  reported  the  building  by  him  as  a 
private  enterprise  of  the  hotel  near  the  southwest  corner 
of  the  campus.  This  was  a  much-needed  improvement. 

Notwithstanding  the  increase  in  assets  during  the  year, 


234    HISTOR  Y  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE. 


the  current  receipts  were  not  sufficient  to  meet  current 
expenses. 

At  this  meeting  Rev.  John  C.  Granbery,  who  had 
served  the  Board  faithfully  as  secretary  since  1868,  re- 
signed the  position,  on  account  of  his  having  accepted  a 
professorship  at  the  Vanderbilt  University.  He  also 
resigned  his  place  as  Trustee  of  the  College. 


JOHN   B.   WARDLAW, 
Of  Georgia  ;  Sutherlin  Medalist,  1874.  • 

Rev.  Paul  Whitehead  was  elected  to  succeed  him  as 
trustee  and  secretary,  and  he  has  been  secretary  of  the 
Board  from  that  meeting  to  the  present  time  (1898). 

At  a  called  meeting  of  the  Board  in  October,  1875, 
President  Duncan  informed  the  Board  that  the  condition 
of  his  health  was  such  that  he  felt  unable  to  do  the 


HISTOR  Y  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE.    235 

heavy  work  devolved  on  him.  An  arrangement  was 
therefore  made  to  lighten  his  duties,  and  he  was  re- 
quested to  travel  as  much  as  practicable  in  the  interest  of 
the  College. 

At  an  adjourned  meeting  of  the  Board,  held  Novem- 
ber,   1875,  Rev.  A.  G.  Brown,  Financial  Secretary,  ten- 


JOHN  W.   REU1),   A.   M,    1875. 
Prof.  Centre  College,  Ky. 

dered  his  resignation.  A  portion  of  his  letter  is  here 
given,  partly  as  history,  and  in  justice  to  him : 

"That  my  labors  have  not  been  more  efficient,  I  deeply 
regret,  yet  in  what  has  been  accomplished  I  am  not 
without  cause  for  gratitude  to  God,  to  whose  merciful 
kindness  I  am  infinitely  indebted. 

"The  assets  of  the  College  have  been  increased  in 
value  about  one  hundred  per  cent. ;  nearly  fifteen  thou- 


336    HISTORY  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE. 


sand  dollars  of  its  debt  has  been  paid  ;  valuable  additions 
and  improvements  have  been  made  to  the  grounds  and 
buildings ;  the  State  stock  owned  by  the  College  has  been 
materially  increased  in  value ;  the  annual  deficit  on  ac- 
count of  current  expenses,  ranging  from  twenty-five 
hundred  to  three  thousand  dollars  a  year,  has  been  pro- 
vided for  ;  all  claims  for  interest  on  College  debts,  amount- 


REV.  PAUL  WHITEHEAD,   D.   D., 
Secretary   Board  of   Trustees,    iSjj-'gS. 

ing  to  about  eighteen  hundred  dollars  per  annum,  have 
been  promptly  paid ;  the  salaries  of  the  professors  and 
employees  have  been  paid  in  full  to  October  ist,  as  well 
as  all  bills  on  current  account.  In  no  instance  has  the 
credit  of  the  College  been  allowed  to  suffer.  Its  business 
has  been  systematized  so  as  to  be  easily  understood. 
The  patronage  of  the  College  has  been  largely  increased ; 


HISTOR  Y  OF  RANDOLPH- MACON  COLLEGE.    337 

its   interests   have  been   faithfully    represented   in   the 

patronizing  Conferences I  have  never  hesitated 

to  use  my  personal  means  and  influence  in  financial  cir- 
cles whenever  exigencies  required  my  so  doing.  Mean- 
while the  country  has  passed  through  a  period  of  unpre- 
cedented financial  depression.  The  wisest  schemes  have 
failed;  the  ample  fortunes  of  wealthy  citizens  and  corpo- 
rations have  been  swept  away ;  the  active  industries  of 
the  country  have  been  fearfully  impaired,  and  the  shrink- 
age in  the  marketable  value  of  property  of  all  descrip- 
tions has  scarcely  been  less  than  one-third.  This  sad 
condition  of  business,  without  a  parallel  in  the  history 
of  this  country,  has  seriously  hindered  all  our  efforts  in 
behalf  of  the  College.  I  have  done  what  I  could.  That 
I  have  not  accomplished  more  has  not  resulted  from  any 
lack  of  love  or  zeal  for  the  College,  but  is  mainly  refer- 
able to  the  mysterious  adversity  which  has  come  upon  us. 

"  In  resigning  my  office  as  Financial  Secretary,  I  do 
not  abate  one  jot  or  tittle  of  my  interest  in  the  College. 
No !  I  love  the  College  as  I  love  the  church ;  and  fidelity 
to  the  church  enjoins  upon  me  and  upon  all  fidelity  to 
the  interests  of  this  institution.  Be  assured  of  my  hearty 
prayers  and  co-operation  in  the  future  as  in  the  past.  As 
a  member  of  this  Board,  I  shall  stand  shoulder  to 
shoulder  with  you  to  make  Randolph-Macon  a  perma- 
nent and  ever-increasing  blessing  to  church  and  state." 

The  following  resolution,  offered  by  Rev.  Paul  White- 
head,  was  then  adopted : 

"Resolved,  That  the  resignation  of  Rev.  A.  G.  Brown 
as  Financial  Secretary  be  accepted,  to  take  effect  Decem- 
ber i,  1875,  and  that  the  Board  hereby  express  their 
appreciation  of  the  fidelity,  ability,  and  integrity  with 
which  he  has  discharged  the  duties  of  his  office." 

This  resolution  was  not  any  too  flattering.     It  may  be 


333     HISTOR  Y  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE. 

truly  said  that  it  is  doubtful  whether  any  man  in  the 
Conference  could  have  brought  the  College  through  the 
trying  period  of  the  panic  as  well  as  the  late  Financial 
Secretary . 

It  was  "Resolved,  That  the  presiding  bishop  be  re- 
quested to  appoint  at  the  ensuing  Virginia  Conference  an 
agent  for  the  College." 


WALTER  H.   PAGE, 
Of  North  Carolina  ;  Sutherlin  Medalist ;     Editor  Atlantic  Monthly. 

At  an  adjourned  meeting  held  at  Danville,  November, 
1875,  the  Board  abolished  the  office  of  Financial  Secre- 
tary. 

William  Willis,  Jr.,  of  Richmond,  was  appointed 
Treasurer,  and  Prof.  William  A.  Shepard,  Proctor. 

At  the  request  of  the  Board,  the  Bishop  appointed 
Rev.  Thomas  A.  Ware,  agent. 


HIS'TOR  Y  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE.    239 

At  the  annual  meeting  in  June,  1876,  the  Building 
Committee  reported  the  Pace  Lecture  Hall  as  being  about 
half  completed,  with  funds  on  hand  to  meet  expenses  of 
completion.  This  was  the  second  brick  building  erected 
on  the  campus. 

The  following  received  the  degree  of  A.  M. :  John  M. 
Burton,  of  Virginia;  Howard  Edwards,  of  Virginia; 
Robert  Sharp,  of  Virginia  ;  R.  Bascom  Smithey,  of  Vir- 
ginia. 

The  President,  in  his  annual  report,  does  not  give  the 
statistics  as  to  the  number  of  students  in  attendance,  but 
the  catalogue  for  the  year  gives  it  as  167.  He,  evidently 
regarding  this  as  the  last  he  would  make,  takes  the  occa- 
sion to  speak  in  the  kindest  and  most  commendatory 
terms  of  his  associates  of  the  Faculty.  He  was  on  the 
most  cordial  terms  with  them,  and  his  kindly  regard  was 
fully  reciprocated.  Referring  to  his  resignation,  which 
he  was  about  to  tender,  he  said : 

' '  And  now  I  approach  a  matter  which  it  gives  me  very 
great  pain  to  announce.  Many  reasons  combine  to  make 
it  best,  however,  that  I  take  the  step  now ;  but  these 
reasons  I  do  not  propose  to  open  for  discussion,  because 
I  have  become  satisfied  and  decided  in  my  convictions. 

"I  have  worked  earnestly,  in  all  good  conscience, 
before  God  for  eight  years  to  promote  the  cause  of  Chris- 
tian education  in  connection  with  Randolph-Macon  Col- 
lege ;  nor  have  I  spared  myself  till  my  health  demanded 
it.  I  have  done  what  I  could.  Eight  years  ago,  in  a 
critical  moment  in  the  history  of  the  College,  your  flat- 
tering representations  of  the  service  you  believed  I  might 
render  to  Christian  education  induced  me  to  sacrifice  my 
own  inclinations  and  to  accept  the  presidency  of  Ran- 
dolph-Macon. 

"What  has  been  done  is  too  well  known  to  you  to 


240   HISTOR  Y  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE. 

make  it  necessary  for  me  to  recount  the  familiar  fac. 
My  rejoicing  in  it  all  is  the  blessing  the  College  has 
been  to  our  young  men,  and  the  fact  that,  by  abundant 
labors,  I  have  also  had  a  personal  share  in  the  rebuilding 
and  re-establishing  an  institution  whose  work  is  its  best 
witness.  In  God's  providence  these  labors  have,  I  trust, 
been  blessed  unto  permanent  good. 

"  But  in  the  meanwhile  I  have  found  that  to  repeat  or 
continue  them  would/ be  a  tax  on  my  health  and  strength 
too  great  for  me  to  bear.  I  am  fully  satisfied  that  the 
confining  duties  of  College  life  are  entirely  incompatible 
with  my  future  health  and  consequent  usefulness ;  but  I 
cannot  consent  to  be  a  nominal  president  of  an  institu- 
tion whose  funds  are  not  sufficient  for  the  support  of  all 
the  active  officers  she  needs.  When  invitations  to  more 
lucrative  positions  were  extended  to  me  I  have  not  en- 
tertained them  for  a'' moment,  simply  because  I  could  not 
allow  my  duty,  as  a  minister  of  Christ,  in  relation  to  this 
work  to  be  governed  by  monetary  considerations.  But 
now,  when  unembarrassed  by  any  invitations  whatever, 
after  calm  reflection  on  all  the  reasons  which  favor  or 
oppose  it,  after  careful  and  prayerful  meditation  upon  it 
as  a  question  of  duty  as  under  God's  guidance,  I  am 
fully  persuaded  that  the  moment  has  come  when  I  may 
and  ought  dutifully  to  return  to  the  position  I  formerly 
occupied  as  a  preacher  in  the  church  of  God.  This  con- 
-viction  is  too  firmly  and  clearly  fixed  for  me  to  alter  it  at 
present. 

' '  I  hardly  need  to  say  that  my  devotion  to  the  College 
is  unchanged.  My  readiness  to  do  whatever  I  can  to 
advance  its  welfare,  I  know  you  will  believe  and  appre- 
ciate. Therefore,  most  respectfully,  with  the  warmest 
wishes  for  your  success  personally  and  officially,  I  feel  it 
my  duty  to  tender  my  resignation  as  President  of  Ran- 


REV.  JOHN  D.  BLACKWELL,  D.  D., 
Vice-President  Board  of  Trustees,  and  President  El'Ct,  1877. 


HISTOR  Y  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE.    241 

dolph-Macon  College.  This  I  propose  shall  take  effect 
at  the  beginning  of  the  next  session,  or  at  the  meeting 
of  the  Virginia  Conference. 

' '  With  many  prayers  for  the  prosperity  of  the  great 
cause,  which  I  must  now  serve  less  efficiently,  but  not 
less  earnestly,  and  with  immutable  love  for  Randolph  - 
Macon,  I  am,  most  respectfully  and  sincerely  yours, 

4 '  JAMES  A.  DUNCAN." 

The  resignation  of  President  Duncan  was  most  reluc- 
tantly accepted,  with  resolutions  of  highest  regard  for 
him  personally  and  commendation  of  his  great  services 
to  the  College.  It  may  be  stated  here  that  he  continued 
to  act  as  president  in  the  interval  between  the  annual 
meeting  and  the  adjourned  meeting,  held  in  Richmond, 
July,  1876.  At  this  meeting  Rev.  John  D.  Blackwell, 
D.  D.,  was  elected  President.  He  declined  to  accept  the 
office.  At  the  adjourned  meeting,  in  November,  Dr. 
Duncan  was  re-elected,  and  he  consented  to  serve  again, 
under  the  most  pressing  solicitation  of  the  Board  and  the 
evident  urgency  of  the  case. 

It  has  been  said  that  "coming  events  cast  their  shadows 
before."  So  this  resignation  of  Dr.  Duncan,  on  account 
of  the  consciousness  of  failing  health,  was  a  shadow,  and 
a  very  dark  one  it  was,  of  the  event  of  the  coming  year, 
which  was  to  cause  mourning  in  all  Southern"  Methodism 
and  in  regions  beyond. 

The  annual  meeting  adjourned,  in  sadness  and  gloom, 
to  meet  again  in  Richmond,  July  25th. 

The  financial  condition  was  not  satisfactory,  and  the 
old  embarrassment  of  former  years  was  again  felt. 

At  the  adjourned  meeting,  held  in  Richmond,  Va., 
July  25,  1876,  the  resignations  of  Professors  Thomas  R. 
Price  and  James  A.  Harrison  were  tendered.  Professor 
16 


242    HISTOR  Y  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE. 

Price  had  been  elected  to  the  chair  of  Greek  at  the  Uni- 
versity of  Virginia,  and  Prof.  Harrison  to  the  chair  of 
Latin  at  Washington  and  Lee  University. 

Changes  were  made  in  the  chairs  to  be  filled,  viz.,  one 
to  be  that  of  English  and  Modern  Languages,  and  the 
other  that  of  Latin  and  Greek.  To  fill  the  first  Robert 
Emory  Black  well,  A.  M.,  was  elected,  and  to  the  other 
Prof.  Charles  Morris,  M.  A.,  of  the  University  of  Georgia. 


PROF.   R.   E.   BLACKWELL,  A.   M. 

Prof.  Blackwell  was  in  Europe  at  the  time,  taking  a 
course  at  Leipzig.  He  took  his  degree  of  Master  of 
Arts  in  1874.  He  had  served  as  assistant  in  the  School 
of  English  under  Prof.  Price,  and  was  recommended  by 
him  in  the  highest  terms.  He  was  the  first  of  Prof. 
Price's  graduates,  of  a  long  list,  to  be  elected  to  a  chair  of 
English. 


HISTOR  Y  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE.    243 

Prof.  Morris  was,  when  elected,  Professor  of  Latin  and 
Greek  at  the  University  of  Georgia.  He,  also,  was  highly 
commended  to  the  Board  by  Prof.  Price,  who  was  a  fel- 
low-student with  him  at  the  University  of  Virginia.  A 
more  whole-souled,  ingenuous  man  never  lived  than  he, 
and  his  character  was  beaming  from  his  face.  Though  a 


CHARLES  MORRIS,    M.   A., 
Professor  of  Greek  and  Latin,  i8jt>-l882. 

member  of  the  Episcopal  church,  he  threw  his  whole 
soul  into  the  religious  work  of  the  College,  and  no  one 
would  have  known  that  he  was  not  a  member  of  the 
Methodist  church. 

The  scale  of  salaries  was  changed.  The  salary  of  the 
President  was  fixed  at  $2,000  :  of  professors,  $1,600. 

Dr.  T.  H.  Bagwell  was  elected  College  physician,  in 
place  of  Dr.  H.  M.  Houston,  resigned. 


244   HISTORY  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE. 

In  parting  with  Prof.  Price,  the  Board  expressed  for 
him  the  kindest  and  highest  appreciation  of  his  long  and 
distinguished  services.  Complimentary  resolutions  were 
also  adopted  in  regard  to  Prof.  Harrison. 

As  a  part  of  a  great  educational  advance,  the  following 
extract  is  given  from  Professor  Price's  letter  of  resigna- 
tion : 

' '  You  have  used  me  to  do  one  piece  of  work  that  was 
so  bold,  and  timely,  and  wise  as  to  draw  the  attention  of 
educated  men  throughout  America  to  our  College,  and  to 
win  for  your  system  of  education  the  hearty  applause  of 
all  that  love  the  culture  of  our  young  men. 

' '  In  establishing  the  chair  of  English  you  have  taken 
a  bold  step  and  wise  innovation.  You  have  pushed  the 
whole  system  of  Virginia  education  distinctly  forward, 
and  you  have  given  to  your  system  of  collegiate  educa- 
tion a  firm  basis  in  the  needs  of  our  people.  I  have  felt 
the  sweetest  joy  of  my  life  to  have  been  permitted  to 
help  in  this  great  work.  I  have  seen  the  School  of  Eng- 
lish, from  session  to  session,  bear  richer  fruits  in  the  de- 
velopment of  our  whole  student  class  and  in  the  grow- 
ing power  of  the  College  over  the  educated  opinion  of 
the  State.  I  beseech  you  now,  in  parting  from  you,  to 
take  the  chair  of  English  under  your  fostering  care,  not 
only  to  uphold  it,  but  to  develop  and  expand  it  as  the 
characteristic  and  special  glory  of  the  College,  and  to 
bring  it  to  pass  that  every  alumnus  of  Randolph-Macon 
College  shall  be,  to  his  own  benefit  and  to  your  honor,  as 
soundly  and  correctly  educated  as  man  ought  to  be  in  the 
knowledge  and  use  of  his  mother  tongue." 

At  this  meeting  Dr.  W.  W.  Bennett,  chairman  of  the 
Building  Committee,  announced  to  the  Board  the  com- 
pletion of  the  Pace  Lecture  building,  at  a  cost  of  about 
$  1 1,000. 


HISTOR  Y  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE.    245 

At  the  annual  meeting  of  the  Board  of  Trustees,  held 
June,  1877,  the  reports  made  by  the  President  and  Trea- 
surer showed  great  embarrassment  in  financial  matters, 
which,  as  a  matter  of  course,  affected  the  prompt  pay- 
ment of  salaries  to  the  members  of  the  Faculty. 

The  patronage  for  the  year  was  reported  to  be  132. 


FROF.   W.  A.    FRANTZ,  A.   M., 
Prof.  English,  Central  College,  Missouri. 

The  degree  of  A.  M.  was  conferred  on  William  Abner 
Frantz,  of  Virginia. 

At  the  June  meeting,  1877,  Thomas  Branch,  Esq.,  re- 
signed the  office  of  president  of  the  Board.  Resolutions 
of  regret  at  his  action,  and  expressive  of  the  kind  regard 
of  the  Trustees  towards  him,  were  adopted. 

Dr.  J.  A.  Duncan  was  elected  to  fill  the  vacancy. 


246    HISTOR  Y  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE. 

William  Willis,  Jr.,  resigned  the  office  of  Treasurer  of 
the  Board  on  account  of  ill-health  and  defective  eyesight. 
This  was  accepted  with  great  reluctance  by  the  Board, 
and  resolutions  of  sympathy  for  him  in  his  afflictions 
and  thanks  for  his  faithful  service  were  adopted. 

Prof.  W.  A.  Shepard  was  elected  Treasurer  pro  tempore, 

When  the  Board  adjourned,  it  closed  its  last  meeting 
in  connection  with  the  president  who  had  inaugurated 
the  College  at  Ashland,  and  had  presided  over  it  for 
nine  years. 

A  few  days  after  the  opening  of  the  session  of  1877- 
1878  he  passed  away,  after  a  brief  illness.  The  record 
of  the  Journal  made  by  the  Secretary,  and  enclosed  in 
black  lines,  is  as  follows : 


On  Monday,  September  24,  1877,  at  4  o'clock 
A.  M.,  Rev.  JAMES  A.  DUNCAN,  D.  D.,  President  of 
Randolph-Macon  College,  died  at  the  President's 
house,  Ashland,  Va.,  after  a  brief  illness.  On 
Tuesday,  the  25th,  a  brief  funeral  service  was  con- 
ducted in  the  College  chapel  by  Rev.  Leroy  M. 
Lee,  D.  D. ;  after  which  the  corpse  was  conveyed 
by  a  special  train  to  Richmond.  Funeral  service 
conducted  at  Broad-Street  Church  by  Bishop  D.  S. 
Doggett,  D.  D.;  a  procession  formed  to  Holly- 
wood, and  the  body  of  this  faithful  and  illustrious 
servant  of  God  buried  there,  in  the  hope  of  a  glo- 
rious resurrection. 


This  writer  was  a  student  at  Randolph-Macon  when 
Dr.  Duncan  was  a  little  boy,  not  yet  in  his  teens.  He 
was  then  as  full'  of  fun  and  mischief  as  a  boy  could  be, 
which,  with  his  sprightliness,  made  him  an  uncommonly 
interesting  boy.  He  was  a  scholar  in  the  first  Sunday- 


HIST  OR  Y  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE.    247 

school  class  he  ever  taught,  and  along  with  him  were  Dick 
and  Gib  Leigh  and  Dick  Manson.  He  was  intimately 
associated  with  him  in  re-establishing  the  College  at  Ash- 
land, he  beginning  his  presidency,  with  this  writer  as 
treasurer  and  chairman  of  the  Executive  Committee. 
Then,  from  1870  to  his  last  illness,  he  sat  under  his  min- 
istry in  the  old  ball-room  chapel,  whose  walls  echoed  to 


WILBUR  F.   TILLETT,  A.   B.,  D.   t)., 
Sutherlin  Medalist,  1877  ;  Dean  Theological  Faculty,  Vanderbilt  University. 

the  tones  of  his  wondrous  voice,  such  as  cathedrals 
rarely,  if  ever,  have  heard.  This  ought  to  render  him 
competent,  in  part,  to  write  of  this  most  gifted  man. 

But  others  have  written  tributes  so  much  better  and 
worthier  of  the  subject  that  he  will  let  them  speak.  The 
first  tribute  to  him  was  given  by  Prof.  Thos.  R.  Price, 
LL.  D.,  who  has  more  than  once  expressed  to  this 


248    HISTOR  Y  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE. 

writer  the  great  retnissness  of  the  Methodist  Church  in 
not  having  had  prepared  a  memoir  of  one  of  its  greatest 
preachers  and  wisest  men. 

The  following  is  Prof.  Price's  sketch  of  Dr.  James  A. 
Duncan : 

"THE  GREAT  PREACHER." 

"  The  bitterest  hour  for  them  that  mourn  their  dead  is 
not  when  the  breath  rattles  in  the  throat  nor  when  the 
clod  rattles  on  the  coffin.  It  comes  when,  after  all  the 
stir  and  turmoil  of  death  and  funeral  are  over,  the  family 
go  back  to  the  ravaged  home,  and  grope  their  ways, 
blinded  with  tears,  through  the  rooms  that  the  dead  man 
has  left  forever  empty.  Not  even  the  sudden  jar  of  the 
final  separation  strikes  so  deep  a  wound  as  the  growing 
sense  of  loss,  as  the  accumulating  despair  of  unsatisfied 
longing.  So,  in  all  the  many  regions  where  Dr.  Dun- 
can, the  great  apostle  of  Virginia,  was  known  and  loved, 
the  deepest  grief  was  not  felt  when  all  those  thousands 
followed  the  hearse  and  sobbed  around  the  open  grave 
under  the  stars  at  Hollywood.  A  deeper  sorrow  comes 
to  us  now,  after  taking  up  again  the  task  of  life,  when 
we  feel,  amid  our  pleasures  and  our  business,  that  the 
great  advocate  of  God,  who  lived  Christ  among  us  as 
sublimely  as  he  preached  him,  has  been  withdrawn  for- 
ever from  among  the  potencies  of  our  time;  when  we 
remember  that,  in  evil  days,  when  many  bad  men  are 
seeking  to  break  down  the  honesty  and  to  dull  the  moral 
sense  of  the  Virginia  people,  we  are  left  without  the 
mighty  aid  of  that  one  man  who  knew  best  of  all  how 
to  stir  the  hearts  and  to  guide  the  acts  of  our  people  to 
good.  Yet  with  the  calmness  of  the  deeper  sorrow 
comes,  too,  the  calmness  to  think  out  the  secret  of  the 
dead  man's  power  over  the  great  masses  of  the  Southern 
people,  for  that  power  was  one  that  reached  far  outside  of 


HISTOR  Y  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE.    249 

his  church  and  of  all  churches  deep  down  into  the  moral 
life  of  Virginia.  Thus  even  for  us  laymen,  for  us  that 
have  no  right  to  preach  and  no  theology  to  teach,  the 
character  of  this  wonderful  man  has  an  abiding  interest. 
It  is  worth  while  for  us  all  to  know  what  were  the  means 
by  which  he  worked.  As  his  life  did  such  immense 
good  to  so  many  thousands  of  our  people,  the  contem- 
plation, and,  if  possible,  the  understanding,  of  that  life, 
can  hardly  fail  to  do  good  to  the  great  communities  that 
are  now  mourning  for  him. 

"  On  the  first  meeting  with  Dr.  Duncan,  were  it  only 
a  hurried  talk  at  a  street-corner  or  a  few  minutes'  con- 
versation on  a  railway  train,  the  first  impression  that 
came  to  the  stranger  from  his  sweet  eyes  and  tender  lips 
was  the  sense  of  a  strange  and  overpowering  love  and 
loveableness  in  the  man.  The  face  and  voice  stole  their 
way  to  the  heart  and  mastered  the  affections.  All  the 
children  were  drawn  to  his  caressing  hands  by  a  charm 
that  their  little  hearts  could  not  withstand.  The  negro 
servants  in  the  houses  that  he  visited  could  be  seen  to 
hang  upon  his  words  and  to  strive  to  catch  his  smile. 
The  belle  of  the  springs,  on  her  way  to  the  ball-room  ; 
the  roughest  mountaineer  loafing  on  the  skirts  of  a 
camp-meeting  ;  boys  and  old  men,  the  ignorant  and  the 
educated,  had  to  yield  themselves  to  the  fascination  of 
the  fresh  and  guileless  love  that  emanated  from  his 
beaming  eyes  and  tender,  penetrating  voice.  Whether 
he  was  moving  with  his  exquisite  grace,  smiling  and 
talking,  through  a  parlor,  or  standing  all  aglow  in  his 
passionate  eloquence  beside  his  pulpit ;  whether  he  spoke 
to  one  man,  soul  to  soul,  in  the  quiet  of  his  study,  or 
faced  the  thousands  of  eyes  that  looked  up  to  him  from 
a  great  city  church,  or  from  the  green  hillsides  of  a  rus- 
tic amphitheatre,  the  power  that  went  forth  from  him, 


250   HISTORY  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE. 

winning  all  hearts  and  softening  all  hardness,  was  the 
power  of  an  exquisitely  loveable  nature,  giving  love 
richly  and  pleading  for  love  in  return.  But  as  you  lis- 
tened to  him,  as  you  watched  the  play  of  his  mobile  fea- 
tures, and  took  in  the  rich,  sweet  tones  of  his  voice,  this 
first  impression  of  the  man's  intense  loveableness  was 
deepened  by  the  impression  of  his  marvellous  intellectual 
power.  The  shrewdness  of  his  observation,  the  pene- 
trating keenness  of  his  intelligence,  the  splendid  preci- 
sion of  his  thought  and  of  his  utterance,  took  instanta- 
neous possession  of  the  hearer's  mind.  His  knowledge 
of  human  character  as  men  moved  before  him,  his  ready 
insight  into  the  tangled  web  of  human  motives,  was 
almost  infallible.  In  spite  of  his  boundless  charity  and 
graciousness,  he  was  a  man  that  could  not  be  deceived 
or  cheated.  He  took  men  in  at  a  glance.  The  smile 
that  curled  around  his  lips,  the  light  that  sparkled  in  his 
eyes,  showed  to  the  dullest,  as  to  the  wiliest,  that  the 
secrets  of  their  character  were  seen,  that  the  very  depths 
of  their  soul  lay  unveiled  before  him.  Thus,  when  you 
talked  with  him,  you  were  sure  to  feel  that,  while  his 
love  opened  his  heart  to  you,  his  intellect  opened  yours 
to  him.  In  managing  men,  above  all,  in  wielding  the 
discipline  of  a  college,  the  amazing  quickness  and  pene- 
tration of  his  intellect  made  him  the  fittest  of  all  men  to 
control  both  character  and  conduct.  The  offender  who 
came  to  hide  his  sin  beneath  a  lie,  found  the  lie  impossi- 
ble, and  flung  himself  with  passionate  tears  upon  the 
love  of  the  man  that  both  understood  and  pitied  his 
weakness.  Even  in  great  audiences,  when  he  spoke  to 
thousands  of  God  and  goodness,  the  veils  of  self-decep- 
tion fell  away  before  the  glances  that  he  shot  into  the 
souls  of  men.  In  all  the  history  of  Christianity  no  man 
ever  pleaded  for  Christ  before  men  with  a  mightier  con- 


HISTOR  Y  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE.    251 

trol  over  the  secrets  of  human  hearts,  with  a  sharper 
penetration  into  the  weakness  and  badness  of  each 
human  soul.  It  was  this  union  of  moral  with  intellec- 
tual force,  this  union  of  the  attractive  power  of  love  with 
the  penetrative  power  of  understanding,  that  gave  to 
Dr.  Duncan  his  unrivalled  and  irresistible  control  over 
the  heart  and  intellect  of  the  Virginia  people.  The 
world  is  so  bad  that  we  are  apt  to  confuse  amiability 
with  silliness,  and  to  see  a  sign  of  intellectual  weakness 
in  a  good  man's  love  and  care  for  his  fellow-men.  But 
here,  at  least,  it  was  one  man  as  strong  as  he  was  good, 
a  man  that  joined  to  the  charm  of  a  tenderly  loving 
heart  the  power  of  a  splendid  genius  and  of  an  incisive 
intelligence.  Thus  he  rose  on  the  hearts  of  men  to  be  a 
living  power  in  our  State  and  time.  Thus  to  each  man 
that  saw  much  of  him,  to  every  human  being  that  was 
exposed  for  long  to  the  influence  of  his  words  and  ac- 
tions, the  man,  simple  and  kindly,  and  great  in  all  his 
deeds,  shone  forth  as  the  revelation  of  a  higher  life,  as 
the  proof  and  example  of  what  Christ's  teaching  meant. 
' '  The  mystery  both  of  the  moral  power  and  of  the 
intellectual  power  of  this  great  man  lay  in  his  astound- 
ing unselfishness  ;  for  the  egoistic  habit  of  mind  is  a 
hindrance  not  only  to  the  moral-  but  also  to  the  intellec- 
tual progress  of  the  man.  A  selfish  regard  for  one's 
own  interests,  the  bad  trait  of  regarding  all  things  and 
all  men  as  subordinate  to  one's  own  designs,  not  only 
deadens  the  moral  sensibility,  but  it  even  distorts  and 
discolors  all  intellectual  insight  into  the  world.  If  we 
fail  to  care  for  other  men's  good  by  being  so  busy  about 
our  own,  we  fail  equally  to  penetrate  into  their  charac- 
ters and  to  see  the  good  and  evil  that  is  in  them  by  being 
unable  to  remove  from  bur  intellectual  vision  the  beam 
of  our  own  desires  and  designs.  From  all  these  obsta- 


252    HISTOR  Y  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE. 

cles,  to  noble  acting  and  to  accurate  thinking,  Dr.  Dun- 
can was  sublimely  free.  He  had  resigned  himself  so 
fully  into  the  hands  of  God  that  he  had  ceased  abso- 
lutely to  care  for  his  own  advantage  or  to  be  perplexed 
by  the  contemplation  of  his  own  aims.  Thus  he  moved 
through  the  annual  courses  of  his  serene  and  glorious 
activity,  preaching  and  teaching  and  helping  all  good 
causes,  with  a  mind  unperverted  from  great  things  by 
any  care  for  little  ones,  with  a  soul  ready  for  any  sacri- 
fice, and,  what  is  harder  still,  ready  to  throw  itself  into 
full  and  instantaneous  sympathy  with  any  soul  that 
opened  to  his  approach.  In  all  his  dealings  with  men, 
as  friend  with  his  friends,  as  preacher  with  his  congre- 
gations, as  teacher  with  his  pupils,  the  loveliness  and 
warmth  of  his  affections  were  equalled  only  by  the  pli- 
ability and  penetration  of  his  intellect,  by  his  wisdom  in 
advising,  by  his  discretion  in  helping. 

' '  All  the  ordinary  temptations  to  self-seeking  fell  off 
powerless  from  the  supreme  unselfishness  of  his  nature. 
When  the  fame  of  his  eloquence  spread  over  many 
States ;  when  he  was  acknowledged  as  the  greatest  orator 
of  his  church,  and,  perhaps,  of  his  country ;  when  the 
richest  churches  of  the  greatest  cities  offered  him  vast 
salaries  to  leave  the  struggling  people  and  the  impover- 
ished college  that  he  loved,  he  clung  fast  to  poverty,  and 
put  aside,  without  a  struggle,  the  temptations  of  ease 
and  wealth.  Even  when  temptation  assailed  him  in 
craftier  forms ;  when  men  told  him  of  the  mighty  con- 
gregations that  New  York  or  St.  Louis  or  San  Francisco 
would  pour  forth  to  catch  from  him  the  words  of  life,  he 
said  that  '  he  loved  his  own  people  best,  and  must  stay 
to  help  Virginia  along.'  Like  his  Master,  he  chose  pov- 
erty rather  than  riches ;  like  his  Master,  he  chose  to 
work  in  a  little  village,  among  a  small  band  of  disciples, 


HISTOR  Y  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE.    253 

rather  than  among  the  splendors  and  plaudits  of  cities ; 
like  his  Master,  he  made  of  life  one  long  series  of 
sweetly-borne  self-sacrifices.  Before  the  spectacle  of 
such  sublime  self -depression  all  words  of  common  praise 
are  unseemly.  But  to  them  that  lived  with  him,  who 
saw  the  great  soul  take  up  so  bravely  and  bear  so  lov- 
ingly the  burthen  of  poverty,  trouble,  and  suffering,  the 
life  he  led  was  a  miracle  of  beauty  and  holiness,  making 
the  world  brighter  and  nobler  by  even  the  remembrance 
of  him. 

"In  his  preaching,  as  in  his  life,  the  same  blending 
of  love  with  wisdom,  of  childlike  simplicity  with  manly 
power,  was  revealed.  There  was  no  fierceness,  no 
affectation,  no  struggling  after  oratorical  effects;  but,  as 
the  powers  of  his  mind  got  into  motion,  as  the  thoughts 
rolled  on,  clear  and  massive,  the  words  and  sentences 
grew  rich  and  lofty,  the  sweet  voice  swelled  out  into 
organ  tones,  the  small  and  graceful  figure  swayed  to  the 
pulsations  of  his  thought,  and  the  beautiful  face  glowed 
with  all  the  illumination  of  love.  There  was  no  theology 
in  his  sermons,  no  polemical  divinity  in  his  conception 
of  divine  truth.  To  love  God,  and  to  love  men  was  for 
him,  as  Christ  taught  him,  the  sum  of  all  righteousness. 
This  power  of  love  was  the  agency  through  which  he 
did  his  work  in  the  world.  As  the  warmth  of  the  sun 
controls  all  the  processes  of  nature  and  commands  all 
the  movements  of  the  universe,  so  warmth  of  love,  as 
the  central  fact  of  God's  moral  government,  was  for  him 
the  source  of  all  power,  the  means  of  subduing  all 
wrong,  and  of  bringing  the  world  back  into  harmony 
with  God's  laws. 

' '  No  human  life  ever  lived  in  this  world  of  ours  was 
attuned  more  fully  to  a  loftier  harmony.  As  we  think 
of  all  the  good  deeds  he  did,  of  all  the  wise  words  he 


254    HISTORY  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE. 

spoke,  of  his  solemn  yet  tender  warnings  against  evil,  of 
the  love  that  charmed  so  many  souls  to  do  right,  of  the 
sublime  unselfishness  that  made  his  life  a  sacrifice  to 
other  men's  good,  we  can  feel  that  to  us,  in  our  own 
State,  born  of  our  own  stock,  in  full  sight  of  us  all,  a 
man  has  been  given  to  live  for  our  good,  as  nearly  as 
man  may,  up  to  the  life-story  of  the  Christ  himself. 
"  University  of  Virginia.  T.  R.  PRICE." 

The  following  is  taken  from  the  Minutes  of  the  Vir- 
ginia Conference,  and  was  written  by  an  old  college 
mate,  Dr.  J.  C.  Granbery,  now  bishop  : 

"James  Armstrong  Duncan  was  born  in  Norfolk, Va., 
April  14,  1830.  He  was  dedicated  to  God  from  his  birth 
and  trained  in  piety  by  his  father,  the  venerable  David 
Duncan,  who  has  been  prominent  through  two  genera- 
tions in  the  education  of  the  youth  of  the  Southern 
States,  and  who  accepted  the  chair  of  Ancient  Languages 
in  Randolph- Macon  College  while  James  was  a  child ; 
and  by  his  mother,  a  woman  of  saintly  character,  who 
preceded  her  son  by  a  few  years  to  the  heavenly  land. 
In  his  boyhood  he  was  a  universal  favorite,  and  dis- 
played the  gifts  of  mind  and  genial  spirit  and  grace  of 
manner  which  became  so  conspicuous  in  his  riper  years. 
We  may  mention  his  overflowing  humor  and  gaiety, 
tempered  with  a  kind  and  generous  nature ;  and  a  won- 
derful power  of  mimicry,  which  furnished  unbounded 
amusement  to  his  comrades,  and,  indeed,  to  persons  of 
mature  age,  but  was  never  used  to  wound  in  feeling  or 
reputation.  In  1847,  during  one  of  those  gracious  revi- 
vals with  which  our  church  has  been  signally  blessed 
year  after  year,  he  sought  and  found  Jesus.  In  one  of 
his  latest  and  most  effective  sermons,  he  has  described 
his  conversion  and  affirmed  that  the  vow  of  consecration 


HISTOR  Y  OF  RANDOLPH-AfACON  COLLEGE.    255 

then  made  had  been  the  controlling  principle  of  his  min- 
istry and  the  motive  of  those  labors  which  his  brethren 
sometimes  thought  excessive. 

' '  He  was  licensed  to  preach  probably  the  next  year. 
The  people  of  Mecklenburg  still  speak  of  his  first  ser- 
mons, in  which  they  saw  the  prophecy  of  his  future 
greatness.  Having  graduated  in  June,  1849,  he  was  im- 
mediately placed  in  charge  of  a  society  in  Alexandria, 
which  had  just  organized  in  connection  with  the  Meth- 
odist Episcopal  Church,  South.  From  that  hour  his 
popularity  and  success  as  a  preacher  and  pastor  began, 
and  they  steadily  waxed  fuller  and  more  lustrous  until 
his  death  quenched  a  star  than  which  none  shone  with  a 
purer  and  more  brilliant  radiance  in  the  whole  firmament 
of  Methodism.  A  great  revival  attended  his  labors  dur- 
ing the  few  months  before  the  session  of  our  Conference, 
and  the  prosperity  of  the  church  was  secured.  He  was 
kept  on  our  northern  border  for  nine  years,  in  Fairfax, 
Leesburg,  Alexandria  and  Washington — everywhere  be- 
loved with  enthusiasm,  every  where  successful  in  his 
ministry.  Then  followed  nine  years  of  faithful  labor  in 
the  city  of  Richmond.  In  1857  he  was  sent  to  Trinity, 
one  of  our  oldest  and  most  important  stations.  There 
had  come  a  crisis  in  the  history  of  that  church.  Its  pros- 
perity was  already  impaired  and  seriously  threatened  by 
the  unfortunate  location  of  the  house  of  worship.  The 
young  pastor  soon  had  the  building  crowded  with  an 
eager  congregation.  The  eloquence  of  his  discourses  and 
the  charm  of  his  social  manners  were  a  theme  of  general 
comment  throughout  the  city.  Two  series  of  sermons  to 
young  men  and  women  proved  peculiarly  attractive,  and 
resulted  in  extensive  and  lasting  benefit.  He  took  front 
rank  among  the  pulpit  orators  of  the  land.  All  denomi- 
nations flocked  to  hear  him,  and  delighted  in  his  com- 


256    HISTOR  Y  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE. 

pany  and  friendship.  These  honors  he  bore  with  modest 
dignity  and  consecrated  with  godly  simplicity  to  the  ser- 
vice of  the  Master.  A  little  band  from  Trinity  deter- 
mined, under  his  leadership,  to  build  a  handsome  and 
commodious  church  on  Broad  street  near  the  Capitol 
Square.  In  1859  he  was  appointed  to  this  new  charge, 
and  preached  in  a  rented  hall  until  the  church  was  com- 
pleted. It  was  dedicated  in  March,  1861,  and,  with  the 
exception  of  two  years,  he  continued  in  pastoral  charge 
until  the  Conference  of  1866.  All  this  time  his  influence 
widened  and  deepened.  He  was  a  power  in  that  city. 
When  it  became  the  capital  of  the  Confederate  States, 
and  was  crowded  with  representatives  from  all  parts  of 
the  South,  his  faithful,  spiritual,  eloquent  preaching  en- 
tranced, edified,  encouraged,  and  impressed  with  a  saving 
efficacy  an  untold  multitude,  whose  number  eternity 
must  reveal.  No  man  in  our  day  has  accomplished 
more  for  Methodism  or  for  the  cause  of  Christ  in  the 
capital  of  Virginia  than  James  A.  Duncan. 

"  In  addition  to  his  pastorate,  he  edited  the  Richmond 
Christian  Advocate  from  the  fall  of  1860  to  the  fall  of 
1866.  With  characteristic  generosity  he  did  this  work 
without  money  and  price — a  free-will  offering  to  the 
church,  except  the  two  years  he  devoted  his  whole  time 
to  the  paper.  The  readiness  and  versatility  of  his  tal- 
ents were  admirably  shown  in  this  office,  for,  with  many 
other  claims  upon  his  time,  he  wrote  not  only  the  edito- 
rials, but  much  of  the  most  popular  and  enjoyable  corre- 
spondence with  which  the  Advocate  was  enriched  during 
those  years.  Great  curiosity  was  aroused  to  find  out  the 
anonymous  authors  of  series  of  letters  published  in  the 
paper;  but  few,  if  any,  suspected  that  they  came  from 
the  fertile  brain  of  the  editor. 

' '  Two  years  he  was  pastor  of  the  Washington- Street 


HISTORY  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE.    257 

Church,  in  Petersburg.  Such  men  as  D' Arcy  Paul  loved 
to  speak  of  the  rich  spiritual  feasts  on  which  he  fed  them 
from  the  .pulpit,  and  the  no  less  precious  influence  of  his 
pastoral  visits.  In  that  city  he  suffered  a  severe  spell  of 
nervous  fever,  his  first  illness  since  childhood. 

"This  brings  us  to  a  third  era  of  nine  years  in  his 
eventful  life.  After  the  war  Randolph- Macon  College 
re-opened  and  feebly  struggled  for  life.  Dr.  Duncan 
was  among  the  strongest  advocates  of  its  removal  from 
Boydton  to  Ashland.  The  Board  of  Trustees  resolved 
on  this  critical  movement  in  the  summer  of  1868.  The 
Faculty  resigned,  and  an  election  was  held  to  fill  the 
vacant  places.  Dr.  Duncan  was  unanimously  chosen 
President.  He  signified  promptly  a  disposition  to  accept 
the  responsible  post,  but  demanded  a  few  days  in  which 
to  carry  the  question  in  private  prayer  to  the  God  whose 
he  was  and  whom  he  served.  Repeatedly  and  emphati- 
cally he  declared  the  singleness  of  purpose  with  which 
he  entered  on  this  office,  and  that  he  would  not  remain 
one  day  in  it  if  it  were  not  for  the  conviction  that 
he  was  thereby  serving  most  efficiently  the  church  of 
Christ. 

"No  one  who  knew  the  man  doubted  his  sincerity 
and  simplicity  of  aim.  He  never  sought  self.  He  was 
indifferent  to  wealth  in  a  degree  which  some  even  cen- 
sured as  extreme.  He  served  not  ambition.  The  esteem 
and  approval  of  good  men  he  must  have  prized,  but 
never,  so  far  as  we  know,  did  he  exhibit  any  undue  con- 
cern about  such  things.  He  belonged  to  Christ,  and  to 
the  church  for  Christ's  sake.  He  went  in  the  courage  of 
faith  and  the  spirit  of  consecration  to  the  College,  and 
devoted  himself  to  the  duties  in  the  chair  of  Moral  Phil- 
osophy and  in  the  presidency.  The  halls  were  filled 
with  a  larger  number  of  students  than  had  ever  sought 
17 


258   HISTOR  Y  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE. 

its  advantages  in  its  palmiest  days  before  the  war.  He 
governed  by  his  personal  influence,  by  the  love  and  con- 
fidence with  which  he  inspired  the  young  men,  and 
diligence  and  good  behavior  were  the  rule  with  rare 
exceptions. 

' '  The  reputation  of  the  institution  for  a  high  grade  of 
scholarship  and  thoroughness  of  culture  was  inferior  to 
that  of  no  other  college  in  the  land.  Young  preachers, 
often  numbering  more  than  forty  in  a  single  session,  sat 
under  his  special  lectures  in  theology,  and  were  moulded 
by  his  example  and  his  teaching.  With  the  authority 
of  a  prophet,  with  the  gentleness  of  a  father,  he  preached 
to  the  students,  week  after  week,  the  word  of  life,  and 
saw  many  of  them  accept  with  glad  heart  the  yoke  and 
burden  of  Christ.  In  private  they  revealed  to  him  all 
that  was  in  their  hearts,  and  sought  his  sympathy  and 
counsel.  In  public,  whatever  the  occasion  on  which  he 
spoke,  they  hung  breathless  on  his  lips,  and  received 
what  he  said  as  if  from  an  angel  of  God.  Those  who 
have  attended  the  Commencements  can  bear  witness  to 
the  outgushing  of  love,  the  wise  and  noble  utterances, 
the  manly  frankness  and  boldness,  and  the  tenderness, 
almost  motherly,  with  which  he  bade  those  young  men 
farewell  in  unstudied  words  of  genuine  eloquence,  and 
the  beaming  faces,  the  streaming  eyes,  the  thunders  of 
applause  with  which  they  responded.  Nor  were  these 
his  only  labors.  Often  during  the  sessions  he  hurried 
off  to  preach  in  city  or  country  at  the  call  of  the  churches 
of  the  Virginia  and  Baltimore  Conferences,  or  in  order  to 
raise  money  for  the  College.  The  summer  vacation  was 
no  rest  to  him,  but  his  busiest  period.  Incessantly  he 
travelled  through  the  two  Conferences,  speaking  on 
Christian  education,  and  speaking  at  District  Confer- 
ences, at  protracted  and  camp-meetings.  He  was  in 


HISTOR  Y  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE.    259 

labors  more  abundant,  not  sparing  himself,  never  reluc- 
tant to  help  in  any  good  work.  Everywhere  he  was 
sought,  everywhere  he  was  welcome.  Thousands  ascribe 
to  him,  under  God,  their  first 'impulse  to  serve  Christ, 
their  revival  from  a  lukewarm  and  languishing  state,  or 
their  fuller  consecration  and  seeking  of  a  higher  spiritual 
life.  We  may  safely  affirm  that  no  man  of  his  own 
generation  has  so  powerfully  impressed  the  religious 
character  of  an  equal  number  within  the  bounds  of  these 
two  Conferences  as  James  A.  Duncan.  He  was  elected 
to  the  General  Conferences  of  1866,  1870,  and  1874. 
That  of  1870  he  did  not  attend,  his  duties  at  the  College 
not  allowing  his  absence.  He  lacked  only  a  few  votes 
to  be  chosen  bishop  at  that  session,  several  delegates  of 
this  body,  who  held  him  in  high  admiration,  and  thought 
him  in  every  way  worthy  of  the  honor,  withholding 
their  votes  because  they  believed  him  essential  to  Ran- 
dolph-Macon  College.  From  that  time  the  mind  of  the 
whole  church  turned  to  him  as  the  fittest  person  to  be 
elected  to  the  episcopacy.  In  1876  he  attended  the  Gen- 
eral Conference  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  as 
one  of  three  fraternal  messengers  from  our  General  Con- 
ference, and  his  address  on  that  occasion  was  marked  by 
its  catholic  spirit,  fervent  love  for  Christ,  and  grand  and 
thrilling  eloquence. 

"In  the  summer  of  1874,  exhausted  by  ceaseless  toil  of 
travel  and  preaching,  and  exposed  to  a  malarial  atmos- 
phere at  a  camp-meeting,  he  was  seized  with  a  fever,  which 
took  a  typhoid  phase,  and  he  lay  for  weeks  at  the  point  of 
death.  For  one  year  he  was  scarcely  fit  for  any  work, 
and  though  he  afterwards  rallied  and  resumed  his  course 
of  untiring  labors,  the  seeds  of  disease  lurked  in  his  sys- 
tem, and  often  developed  in  severe  spells  of  sickness; 
yet  he  worked  on,  cheerful,  energetic,  consumed  with 


26o   HISTOR  Y  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE. 

zeal.  The  past  summer  he  spoke  and  preached  with  an 
ardor,  power,  and  success  equal  to  his  happiest  efforts  in 
the  years  of  his  vigorous  health.  Sunday,  September 
the  Qth,  he  was  in  Baltimore,  to  preach  at  the  re-opening 
of  Trinity,  and  this  he  did  in  the  forenoon  with  great 
power,  despite  intense  physical  pain.  On  his  return  to 
Ashland  it  was  found  that  his  jawbone  was  decayed, 
and  poison  diffused  throughout  his  frame.  Erysipelas 
attacked  his  face.  His  sufferings  were  great,  but  borne 
with  patience  and  sweetness.  He  sat  up,  however,  a 
part  of  each  day,  and  seemed  not  to  suspect  that  his  end 
drew  near.  Monday  morning,  the  24th,  he  fell  asleep 
in  Jesus. 

"Oh!  the  surprise,  the  shock,  the  grief  of  heart,  the 
sense  of  loss,  the  feeling  of  desolation,  which  that  news 
produced.  Crowds  attended  his  funeral  at  Broad-Street 
Church,  which,  by  a  marble  tablet,  acknowledges  him  its 
founder,  and  Bishop  Doggett  pronounced  his  eulogy. 
Memorial  services  were  held  in  Richmond,  Petersburg, 
and  Baltimore.  Resolutions  of  highest  praise  were 
passed  by  Quarterly  Conferences  and  by  the  faculties  of 
colleges  and  universities.  The  secular  and  religious 
press  honored  his  memory  with  heartfelt  tributes ;  but 
all  these  honors  fell  far  short  of  expressing  the  reverence 
and  love  with  which  he  is  cherished  in  thousands  of 
hearts  and  thousands  of  homes.  We  yield  to  our  sorrow 
of  personal  bereavement,  and  then  chide  ourselves  for 
the  selfishness  when  we  ought  to  be  grieving  over  the 
loss  to  the  church.  We  think  with  sadness  and  almost 
with  despondency  of  the  bereavement  of  our  College, 
and  Conference,  and  Church,  and  tears  fill  our  eyes,  and 
a  sword  pierces  our  heart,  at  the  unbidden  suggestion  of 
the  void  in  our  own  life  which  the  death  of  this  dear, 
this  noble  friend  and  brother  has  made. 


H1STOR  Y  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE.    261 

"  We  have  said  little  of  his  private  life.  He  was  early 
married  to  Miss  T witty,  of  North  Carolina,  who  for 
many  years  proved  a  companion  and  helpmeet  worthy  of 
such  a  man,  and  passed  away  in  1870.  He  married  in 
1873  Miss  Wade,  a  daughter  of  a  minister  of  the  Balti- 
more Conference,  who  ministered  to  him  and  comforted 
him  through  the  last  years  of  his  life,  years  of  compara- 
tive weakness  and  pain,  and  now  mourns,  yet  in  resigna- 
tion and  trust,  his  death.  He  leaves  four  children  of 
the  first  and  one  of  the  second  marriage.  The  widow 
and  children  have  the  deepest  sympathies  and  fervent 
prayers  of  this  Conference. 

"A  few  more  words  we  must  say  about  this  loved 
brother.  He  was  a  natural  orator.  Perhaps  this  remark 
should  be  changed,  not  to  abate  its  force,  but  to  enlarge 
its  application.  He  was  a  born  talker,  equally  gifted  in 
conversation  and  in  public  discourse.  He  had  every 
physical  advantage — grace  of  attitude  and  gesture,  a 
voice  which  everybody  likened,  in  sweetness,  richness, 
and  compass,  to  the  organ,  and,  we  must  add,  to  the 
organ  when  struck  by  a  master  musician,  for  he  had  his 
voice  under  perfect  command,  and  moderated  it  to  con- 
vey the  fullest  variety  of  pure  and  worthy  sentiment ;  a 
countenance  on  which  one  loved  to  gaze,  handsome  in 
repose,  lovely  when  lit  up  by  the  noble  thoughts  and 
feelings  of  his  great  soul.  He  had  every  intellectual  and 
moral  advantage  ;  a  ready  flow  of  happy  diction,  which 
seemed  perfectly  spontaneous,  and  yet  exactly  suited  the 
thought ;  a  playful  humor,  and,  when  needed,  keenness 
of  wit  and  satire  which  added  zest  to  his  serious  speech, 
but  detracted  not  from  its  weight ;  a  quick  insight  into 
the  heart  of  a  subject,  judgment  remarkably  sound,  the 
logical  spirit  without  slavery  to  logical  forms,  and  an 
imagination  which  could  sport  like  a  butterfly  amid 


262    HISTORY  OF  RANDOLP H-MACON  COLLEGE. 

flowers,  or  soar  like  an  eagle  beyond  the  clouds  ;  sensi- 
bility delicate,  deep,  strong — acute  sympathy  with  his 
fellow-man  ;  a  response  in  his  feelings  to  everything 
true,  pure,  generous,  and  grand.  Above  all,  he  was  full 
of  the  Holy  Ghost,  and  could  say,  '  For  the  love  of 
Christ  constraineth  me.'  His  adaptation  to  all  classes 
of  hearers,  to  all  classes  of  circumstances,  was  marvel- 
lous. He  could  interest  and  edify  the  child,  the  unlet- 
tered, the  cultivated,  the  scholar,  with  equal  ease. 
Every  variety  of  style  came  naturally  to  him,  from  a 
familiar  home  talk,  through  all  gradations  of  argument, 
instruction  and  pathos,  to  the  impassioned,  sublime  and 
overwhelming  appeal.  The  earnestness  and  simplicity 
of  his  soul  were  ever  manifest ;  that  he  preached  not 
self,  not  philosophy,  not  human  wisdom,  not  excellency 
of  speech,  but  Christ  and  him  crucified,  not  for  fame, 
but  to  win  souls. 

"  In  his  social  and  pastoral  qualities  he.  no  less  ex- 
celled. Others  have  equalled,  none  surpassed  him  in 
diligence  and  fidelity  ;  but  who  can  compare  in  charm, 
in  breadth  and  tenderness  of  sympathy,  in  aptness  to 
guide  and  comfort,  in  power  to  draw  forth  trust  and 
love?  Place  him  in  any  parlor,  at  any  table,  among  the 
rich  or  poor,  and  he  would  be  the  centre  of  attraction— 
every  eye  fixed  on  him,  every  ear  attend  his  voice.  Let 
him  sit  by  the  bed  of  any  invalid,  though  a  stranger  be- 
fore that  hour,  and  soon  he  would  soothe  and  cheer,  and 
the  heart  would  open  to  his  words  as  though  he  had 
been  a  life-long  friend.  The  young  and  old,  men  and 
women,  the  rude  and  the  cultivated,  felt  free  to  confide 
to  him  their  troubles  and  ask  his  sympathy  and  aid  ; 
yet,  in  the  narrower  circle  of  long-tried  friendship  and  of 
home,  never  did  there  beat  a  truer,  more  constant,  more 
generous  heart ;  so  unselfish,  so  frank,  so  forbearing,  so 


HISTOR  Y  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE.    263 

trustful,  so  magnanimous,  never  giving  up  a  friend, 
though  he  may  have  strayed  far,  and  long,  and  fallen 
low ;  never  slow  in  responding  to  any  call  for  help. 

"But  we  must  close  this  sketch.  He  was  our  favorite 
and  our  ornament,  we  might  almost  say  our  idol ;  but 
we  glorify  God  in  him.  He  has  been  taken  away  in  his 
prime,  at  the  height  of  his  usefulness,  when  we  were 
leaning  on  his  counsel  and  strength,  when  we  were  re- 
joicing in  the  prospect  of  many  years  of  his  company  and 
service.  But  we  thank  God  for  his  example,  his  work, 
and  his  prayers.  He  rests  from  his  labors,  and  his 
works  do  follow  him." 

A  meeting  of  the  Board  was  called,  to  assemble  at 
Broad- Street  Church  October  4,  1877,  to  make  provision 
for  the  College  after  the  loss  of  President  Duncan. 

Dr.  A.  W.  Wilson,  vice-president,  announced  his 
death,  and  a  committee,  consisting  of  Dr.  W.  W.  Ben- 
nett, Dr.  Samuel  Rodgers,  and  Hon.  Wm.  Milnes,  Jr., 
was  appointed  to  report  suitable  resolutions  to  the  Board, 
and  they  presented  the  following,  which  was  unani- 
mously adopted  : 

' '  Resolved,  That,  as  the  Board  of  Trustees  of  Ran- 
dolph-Macon  College,  we  have  the  deepest  sorrow  in  our 
hearts  in  announcing  to  our  church  and  people  the  great 
loss  we  have  sustained  in  the  death  of  Rev.  James  A. 
Duncan,  D.  D.,  our  late  President.  His  devoted  life  as 
a  Christian  minister  and  his  constant  and  arduous  labors 
for  the  past  nine  }rears  in  behalf  of  Randolph- Macon 
College,  and  the  high  position  to  which  he  and  his  co- 
laborers  in  the  Faculty  have  brought  the  institution,  de- 
mand that  our  people  should  give  some  expression  of 
their  appreciation  of  this  work,  which,  in  its  widening 
influence,  we  trust  shall  abide  for  generations  to  come. 
And  in  the  judgment  of  this  Board  nothing  can  more 


264    HISTOR  Y  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE. 

adequately  express  our  conviction  of  the  value  of  his 
life  and  work  for  the  College  and  the  cause  of  Christian 
education  than  that  the  church  should  determine  to  raise 
a  'memorial  fund'  of  $100,000  for  the  accomplishment 
of  an  earnest  and  often-expressed  wish  of  our  deceased 
President,  the  permanent  endowment  of  the  College  and 
the  enlargement  of  its  sphere  of  usefulness." 

The  presidency  of  the  Board  having  been  made  vacant 
by  the  death  of  President  Duncan,  Rev.  W.  W.  Bennett 
was  elected  to  it. 

To  fill  the  presidency  of  the  College,  Rev.  W.  W. 
Duncan,  brother  of  the  late  President,  was  elected. 

At  an  adjourned  meeting,  held  in  Lynchburg,  Va., 
November  16,  1877,  Secretary  Rev.  Paul  Whitehead  pre- 
sented a  letter  from  the  Rev.  W.  W.  Duncan,  Professor 
in  Wofford  College,  South  Carolina,  declining  the  presi- 
dency, to  which  he  had  been  elected  in  July  last.  This 
declination  and  the  financial  embarrassment  of  the  Col- 
lege elicited  the  hearty  interest  of  the  Virginia  Confer- 
ence, then  in  session.  A  large  committee  from  that 
body  was  appointed  to  confer  with  the  Board  to  concert 
measures  which  would  meet  the  serious  condition  of  the 
affairs  of  the  College.  The  joint  conference  was  held  for 
several  days. 

After  the  joint  conference  was  concluded,  on  the  igth 
.of  November,  the  Board  proceeded  to  elect  a  President 
of  the  College.  The  result  of  the  first  ballot  was  :  For 
R.  N.  Sledd,  6  votes;  for  W.  W.  Bennett,  6  votes. 
Necessary  to  a  choice,  7. 

The  second  ballot  resulted  in  the  same  vote. 

The  third  ballot,  other  members  having  come  in,  re- 
sulted as  follows :  W.  W.  Bennett,  9  votes ;  R.  N.  Sledd, 
5  votes.  Necessary  to  a  choice,  8  votes.  So  Rev.  W.  W. 
Bennett,  D.  D.,  was  declared  elected. 


BISHOP  W.  W.  DUNCAN. 

Elected  President  iSjj.— Declined  to  accept. 


REV.   W.  W.   BENNETT.   D.   D., 
President  of  the  Board  of  Trustees,  r§7?  :  President  of  the  College.  1877- f 


HISTOR  Y  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE.    265 

Resolutions  respecting  the  death  of  William  Willis, 
Jr. ,  late  treasurer  of  the  Board,  who  had  died  since  the 
last  meeting  of  the  Board,  were  adopted. 

At  this  meeting  Rev.  Thomas  A.  Ware  resigned  his 
place  as  Agent. 

The  new  President,  when  elected,  was  the  editor  of 
the  Richmond  Christian  Advocate,  of  which  he  had  been 
the  proprietor,  wholly  or  in  part,  for  ten  years.  He  was 
a  leading  man  in  the  Virginia  Conference,  and  largely 
acquainted  with  the  ministers  and  people  of  the  church 
in  Virginia  and  elsewhere,  having  been  a  member  of  the 
General  Conference  for  a  number  of  sessions.  He  was 
in  the  full  vigor  of  manhood.  His  education  had  been 
secured  at  the  University  of  Virginia.  Having  been  an 
active  member  of  the  Board  for  years,  and  frequently  on 
important  committees  of  the  Board,  and  having  lived  in 
Ashland  for  a  number  of  years,  he  was  thoroughly  con- 
versant with  the  affairs  of  the  College.  He  felt  and  ap- 
preciated the  great  purposes  of  its  establishment  and  the 
capabilities  which  it  might  be  endowed  with  by  the  ac- 
tion of  the  church.  He  also  knew  what  a  burden  he 
was  about  to  take  up  and  carry — a  burden  which  had 
taxed  the  energies  and  heart  of  his  predecessor;  but, 
hopeful  and  sanguine,  he  probably  did  not  appreciate  the 
full  weight  of  the  burden  which  was  to  test  his  heart  and 
energies,  in  turn,  to  their  utmost  strain.  It  was  well 
that  he  was  hopeful  and  trustful. 

Dr.  Bennett  commenced  his  duties  with  the  following 
colleagues  in  the  Faculty  December  i,  1877:  Robert 
Emory  Black  well,  A.  M.,  Professor  of  English  and  Mod- 
ern Languages;  Harry  Estill,  A.  M.,  Professor  of 
Mathematics ;  William  A.  Shepard,  A.  M.,  Professor  of 
Chemistry:  Charles  Morriss,  M.  A.,  Professor  of  Greek 
and  Latin. 


266    HISTOR  Y  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Board,  held  in  Baltimore,  March, 
1878,  the  Faculty  was  increased  by  the  election  of  Wil- 
liam Waugh  Smith,  A.  M.,  to  the  chair  of  Moral  and 
Mental  Philosophy.  Some  time  afterward  he  entered 
upon  his  duties  as  professor,  and  his  connection,  in  some 
capacity,  has  continued  to  this  day.  Of  his  connection 
with  the  College  more  will  be  recorded  further  on  in  this 
narrative. 


GRAY  CARROLL, 
Sutherlin  Medalist,  1878 ;  District  Solicitor,  Little  Rock,  Ark. 

At  this  meeting  it  was  proposed  to  have  published  a 
memorial  volume  of  the  late  President  Duncan.  That  it 
was  not  done  promptly,  and  in  a  manner  worthy  of  him, 
is,  and  always  will  be,  a  source  of  regret  to  those  who 
knew  and  loved  him.  This  affords  another  instance  and 
example  of  how  little  has  been  done  to  let  the  lives  and 


RICHARD  B.  DAVIS,  A.  B.,  1862. 
Member  Board  of  Trustees. 


HISTOR  Y  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE.    267 

labors  of  Virginia's  gifted  men  speak  after  they  are  dead. 
Surely  he  was  worthy  of  a  fitting  biography. 

At  the  annual  meeting,  June,  1878,  the  President,  in 
his  annual  report,  gave  the  number  of  students  in  attend- 
ance as  141,  from  twelve  different  States.  He  reported 
a  revival  of  religion  as  having  occurred,  with  twenty 
converts  among  the  students. 


FRANK  NOLAND, 

First  "  Pace"  Medalist,  l8j8  ;  Assistant  Editor  "  Landmark." 

An  effort  has  been  made,  with  some  success,  to  retire 
the  floating  debt  of  the  College,  amounting  to  about 
$23,000,  on  some  of  which  ten  per  cent,  interest  was 
being  paid,  averaging  eight  per  cent.  The  President 
was  hopeful  of  good  patronage  and  retiring  the  debt. 

The  following,  on  recommendation  of  the  Faculty, 
received  degrees,  viz. :  Henry  A.  Boyd,  of  North  Caro- 


268    HISTOR  Y  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE, 

lina,  A.  M. ;  Mansfield  T.  Peed,  of  Virginia,  A.  M. ; 
William  J.  Sebrell,  of  Virginia,  A.  B. ;  Wilbur  Fisk  Til- 
lett,  of  North  Carolina,  A.  B. ;  M.  P.  Rice,  B.  S. 

The  ' '  Sutherlin  Medal  for  Oratory ' '  was  won  by  Gray 
Carroll,  of  Virginia. 

The  "Walton  Greek  Prize  "  went  to  Clarence  Edwards, 
of  Virginia. 


PROF.   R.   BASCOM  SMITHEY,  A.   M. 

The  "Pace"  medal  for  the  best  English  essay  was 
awarded  to  Frank  Noland,  of  Virginia,  the  first  to  win  it. 
This  medal  was  offered  by  Mr.  James  B.  Pace,  of  Rich- 
mond, Va. 

Prof.  Harry  Estill  resigned,  July  8,  1878,  the  chair 
of  Mathematics  after  ten  years'  service.  He  was  the 
last  of  President  Duncan's  Faculty  to  leave.  He  went 


HISTOR  Y  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE.    269 

to  the  Washington  and  Lee  University,  and  took  the 
same  chair  at  that  institution,  his  Alma  Mater. 

To  the  chair  thus  vacated  Royal  Bascom  Smithey 
(A.  M.  1876)  was  elected,  and  he  has  filled  it  with  great 
satisfaction  to  his  pupils  and  the  Board  to  the  present 
time  (1898). 


CLARENCE  EDWARDS,   A.   M., 
"Pace"  Medalist,  l8jq  ;  Attorney-at-Laiv> 

The  old  chapel  was  consumed  by  fire  March  12,  1879. 
Fortunately  there  was  nothing  in  it  but  the  furniture, 
which  was  saved.  It  had  a  varied  histoiy.  Before  the 
war  it  was  a  ball-room ;  during  the  war  a  hospital ;  after 
the  war  a  place  for  religious  sendee  for  nearly  eleven 
years.  Its  walls  had  resounded  with  the  eloquence  of 
Duncan,  Wightman,  Guard,  Ran.  Tucker,  Rosser,  Ben- 
nett, atad  others.  In  it  many  of  Randolph- Macon's 


270   HISTORY  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE.   ' 

brightest  sons  had  received  their  diplomas  ;  in  it  many 
had  been  "born  again"  to  a  new  life.  Services  were 
held  afterwards  in  the  Mathematical  lecture- room  in  the 
Pace  building  until  the  "Duncan  Memorial"  building, 
with  church  and  chapel,  had  been  completed. 


CHARLES  W.  TILLET,   A.   B., 
Sutherlin  Medalist \  i&jq  ;  Member  of  North  Carolina  Senate, 

Immediate  steps  were  taken  to  erect  the  new  building, 
and  Rev.  George  W.  Nolley  took  an  active  and  success- 
ful part  in  raising  the  funds  for  its  erection.  The  ladies 
of  the  church  also  did  a  good  part  in  this  work;  also 
the  Faculty  and  the  students. 

In  June,  1879,  the  Finance  Committee  reported  that 
about  one-half  the  "floating  debt"  had  been  subscribed. 
Nevertheless,  for  want  of  endowment,  the  current  ex- 
penses of  the  year  had  exceeded  the  income.  They 


HISTORY  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE.    271 

.therefore  recommended  that  the  President  be  requested 
to  devote  his  time  and  attention  specially  to  the  raising 
of  funds  for  retiring  the  debt. 

The  following  degrees  were  conferred,  viz.  : 

A.  M. 

T.  E.  CRENSHAW,  Virginia.  CLARENCE  EDWARDS,  Vii'ginia. 

WM.  J.  SEBRELL,  Virginia. 

A.  B. 

WILLIAM  H.  EDWARDS,  Virginia. 

Clarence  Edwards  won  the  "Pace"  medal. 

Charles  W.  Tillett  won  the  ' '  Sutherlin  ' '  medal. 

The  number  of  students  for  the  session  of  i8y8-'79 
was  123. 

The  session  of  1879-1880  was  not  marked  by  much 
that  is  worthy  of  record. 

The  President  of  the  College  devoted  his  time  largely 
in  raising  funds  to  discharge  the  debt  of  the  College. 
In  his  annual  report,  June,  1880,  he  announced  the  com- 
pletion of  the  new  College  chapel,  built  in  place  of  the 
old  chapel. 

Although  there  was  an  increase  of  students,  still  the 
expenses  exceeded  the  income  by  over  $3,300. 

At  the  commencement,  June,  1880,  degrees  were  con- 
ferred as  follows;  viz.  : 

A.  M. 
JESSE  TALBOTT  LITTLETON,  of  Virginia. 

A.  B. 

W.  W.  SAWYER,  Virginia.  CHAS.  W.  TILLETT,  N.  Carolina. 

D.  D. 

Rev.  ADOLPHUS  W.  MANGUM,  A.  M.,  Prof.  University  of  North 
Carolina  (Class  1854). 

At  a  called  meeting  of  the  Board,  held  at  Danville, 
Va.,  November,  1880,  the  announcement  was  made  that 


272    HISTORY  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE. 


the  sum  required  to  cancel  the  debt  of  the  College  had 
been  subscribed.  This  gratifying  result  was  achieved 
by  the  long  and  arduous  labors  of  Dr.  Bennett,  Presi- 
dent of  the  College. 


DOCTOR  M.  JAMES, 
Of  West  Virginia  ;  Sutherlin  Medalist. 

I880-I88I. 

The  following  received  degrees  at  the   annual  com- 


mencement, June,  1 88 1  : 


A.  M. 


JOSEPH  C.  JONES,  Virginia. 
JOHN  B.  CRENSHAW,  Virginia. 
BASIL  W.  WATERS,  Maryland. 

A 

JOHN  F.  BLACKWELL,  Virginia. 
JOSEPH  C.  TERRELL,  Virginia. 


JAMES  C.  SHELTON,  Virginia. 
ROBERT  W.  TOMLIN,  Virginia. 
JAMES  W.  MORRIS,  Virginia. 
B. 

D.  M.  JAMES,  West  Virginia. 
WM.  B.  CRENSHAW,  Kentucky. 


E.  E.  HARRELL,  N.  Carolina. 


HISTOR  Y  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE.    273 

The  following  resolution  was  adopted  by  the  Board, 
on  motion  of  Dr.  Paul  Whitehead : 

"Resolved,  That  the  Rev.  W.  W.  Bennett,  D.  D., 
President  of  this  College,  deserves,  and  we  hereby  ten- 
der to  him,  the  thanks  of  the  Trustees  for  the  patient 
and  indefatigable  manner  in  which  he  has  performed  the 


JESSE  TALBOTT  LITTLETON, 
Prof.  Emory  and  Henry  College  ;  Pace  Medalist,  1880. 

duty  committed  to  him  of  raising,  by  subscription,  the 
amount  necessary  to  pay  the  debt  of  the  College,  amid 
discouragements  and  difficulties  which  have  rendered 
the  work  at  once  thankless  and  toilsome." 

In  the  annual  report  of  the  President  the  following 

items  are  noted:  The  number  of  students  matriculated 

was  1 28.     The  debt  of  the  College  had  been  considerably 

reduced   by  collection  of  subscriptions.     The   Finance 

18 


274  HISTORY  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE. 

Committee  reported  that  if  the  subscriptions  were  paid 
up  the  financial  condition  of  the  College  would  be  bet- 
ter than  it  had  been  at  any  period  of  its  recent  history. 

At  the  close  of  this  session,  after  spending  four  years 
in  College,  diplomas  in  Greek  and  Mathematics,  and  the 
Mathematical  prize  were  awarded  to  a  young  man  whose 


REV.   BASIL  W.   WATERS,  A.   M., 
Missionary  to  Japan. 

subsequent  career  has  marked  him  as  one  of  the  first 
mathematical  scholars  of  the  age.  This  was  David  W. 
Taylor,  of  Louisa  county,  Va.  In  September,  1881,  he 
was  second  among  one  hundred  and  fifty  candidates  for 
entrance  as  cadet  engineer  at  the  United  States  Naval 
Academy.  He  graduated  from  the  Naval  Academy 
June,  1885,  standing  first  in  his  class  each  year;  was 


HISTOR  Y  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE.    275 

ordered  to  the  flagship  of  the  European  station,  under 
the  command  of  (then)  Captain  Dewey  ;  then  sent  to  the 
Royal  Naval  College  at  Greenwich,  near  London,  Eng- 
land, taking  at  that  place  a  three-years'  course  in  naval 
architecture  and  marine  engineering  ;  graduated  there  in 
1888  at  the  head  of  his  class,  receiving  the  highest  marks 


JAMES  W.    MORRIS,   A.  M. 
Sutherlin  Medalist ;  face  Medalist,  1881 ;  Missionary  to  Brazil. 


ever  obtained  for  the  course  by  either  an  English  or  foreign 
student.  He  is  now  (1898)  an  assistant  to  Chief  of  the 
Bureau  of  Construction  and  Repair,  Washington,  D.  C. 

1881-1882. 

At  the  close  of  the  year   i88i-'82  the  following  re- 
ceived degrees : 


276   HISTOR  Y  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE. 

A.  M. 

R.  E.  L.  HOLMES, Virginia.  EDMUND  S.  RUFFIN,  Virginia. 

EDGAR  A.  POTTS,  Virginia.  JOSEPH  T.  REESE,  Georgia. 

A.  B. 

HUGH  C.  DAVIS,  Virginia.  J.  P.  MAUZY,  Virginia. 

THOMAS  N.  POTTS,  Virginia. 


DAVID  W.  TAYLOR, 
Mathematical  Prize,  1881 ;  Nazml  Constructor,  U,  S.  Navy, 

D.  D. 

Rev.  CHARLES  B.  STUART  (Class  1845),  Texas. 

Sutherlin  Medalist. — SAMUEL  M.  GARLAND,  of  Virginia. 
Pace  Medalist. — JOHN  NEWTON  McCoRMicK,  of  Maryland. 

The  number  of  students,  by  the  President's  report, 
was  100,  a  decrease  of  28. 


HISTOR  Y  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE.    277 


The  completion  of  the  Duncan  Memorial  Church  was 
announced.  The  credit  of  this  work  was  given  to  ladies 
of  the  congregation,  who  had  worked  with  great  zeal  and 
efficiency  to  raise  the  needed  funds. 

At  the  annual  meeting  President  W.  W.  Bennett  ten- 
dered his  resignation  of  the  presidency  of  the  Board  of 
Trustees  and  of  the  College. 


HUGH  C.  DAVIS,  A.   B.,   l882, 

.,  I  ttorney-at-Laiv. 

Bishop  Alpheus  \V.  Wilson  was  elected  president  of 
the  Board,  and  Rev.  John  D.  Black  well  vice-president. 

The  vacancy  of  the  presidency  of  the  College  was  not 
filled,  but  the  Board  adjourned  to  meet  in  Centenary 
Church,  Richmond,  July  19,  1882,  to  fill  the  office. 
Petitions  were  laid  before  the  Board,  sent  by  a  number 


2yS    HISTOR  Y  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE. 

of  ministers  and  friends  of  the  College,  and  also  by  a 
large  number  of  the  students,  asking  the  Board  to  re- 
elect  Dr.  Bennett  to  the  presidency  of  the  College. 

At  the  adjourned  meeting,  held  July  19,  1882,  Dr. 
Bennett  was  re-elected  President,  almost  unanimously, 
and  he  accepted  the  office.  He  stated  that  he  had  labored 
under  a  wrong  impression  in  regard  to  the  sentiments  of 
the  Board  when  he  resigned  the  presidency. 


DUNCAN  MEMORIAL  CHURCH. 


At  a  called  meeting,  held  in  November,  1882,  the  re- 
signation of  Charles  Morris,  Professor  of  Latin  and 
French,  was  made  known  to  the  Board.  This  resigna- 
tion was  accepted  with  expressions  of  the  high  appre- 
ciation by  the  Board  of  the  personal  character  and  fidelity 
of  Prof.  Morris.  He  accepted  a  professorship  in  the 
University  of  Georgia. 

Prof.  William  W.  Smith  was  elected  to  have  charge  of 
Latin  and  Greek. 

At  the  Annual  Conference,  held  in  November,  1882, 
the  annual  assessment  made  by  the  Conference  for  the 


HISTOR  Y  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE.   279 

College  was  increased  by  $500,  making  it  $3,500,  which 
amount  has  been  the  assessment  to  this  date,  June,  1898. 


CLAUDE  A.  SWANSON, 

Sutherlin  Medalist  ;   Member  of  Congress  from  Virginia. 

I882-I883. 

The  degree  men  for  the  year  ending  June,  1883,  were 

A.  M. 

JOHN  F.  BLACKWELL,  Virginia.      JOHN  MORRIS,  Georgia. 
W.  A.  CRENSHAW,  Virginia.  E.  E.  HARRELL,  N.  C. 

LEWIS  MILLER,  Massachusetts. 

A.  B. 

GEORGE  B.  DAVIS.  Virginia.  THOMAS  D.  NEWSON,  Virginia. 

JOHN  D.  EPES,  Virginia.  SYDNEY  B.  WRIGHT,  Virginia. 

JOHN  NEWTON  McCoRMicK,  Maryland. 


aSo    HISTOR  Y  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE. 

D.  D. 

Rev.  W.  S.  BLACK,  of  the  North  Carolina  Conference. 

Rev.  W.  E.  EDWARDS,  of  the  Virginia  Conference. 

Rev.  P.  H.  WHISNER,  of  the  Baltimore  Conference. 
Sutherlin  Medalist. — CLAUDE  A.  SWANSON,  Virginia. 
Pace  Medalist. — CHARLES  EMORY  KREGLOE,  Virginia. 


JOHN  MORRIS,  A.   M., 
Professor  of  English ,  University  of  Georgia. 

Thomas  Branch,  Esq.,  who  had  served  on  the  Board 
for  forty  years,  tendered  his  resignation  as  a  trustee. 
This  was  received,  with  a  resolution  of  the  high  appre- 
ciation of  his  services  as  president  of  the  Board  and  trus- 
tee, and  his  liberality  and  devotion  to  the  College.  He 
was  succeeded  by  his  son,  John  P.  Branch. 

The  President's  report  showed  the  attendance  to  be 
114.  In  this  report  the  President  recommended  the 


HISTOR  y  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE.    281 

system  of  co-education  of  males  and  females  for  the  first 
time.  The  recommendation  of  the  President  was  not 
adopted. 

The  Board  took  steps  to  have  erected  new  dormitories 
on  the  campus. 

1883-1884. 

This  year,  the  anniversary  year  of  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal Church  in  the  United  States,  was  to  prove  the 


CHARLES  EMORY  KREGLOE, 
Pace  Medalist :  Professor  Alleghany  Institute. 

turning  point  in  the  financial  history  of  the  College. 
The  movement  towards  the  increase  of  the  endowment 
was  not  general,  but  it  was  in  the  right  direction.  The 
first  subscription  was  for  $1,000,  as  in  1855 ;  it  was  made 
by  Mr.  E.  M.  Tilley,  of  Berkley,  Va.,  a  Northern  man 


2S2     HISTOR  Y  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE. 

living  in  that  town,  not  then  a  member  of  the  Methodist 
Church.  The  larger  part  of  the  funds  raised  was  from 
the  Norfolk  district,  apart  from  the  subscription  made 
by  members  of  the  Board  at  the  annual  meeting,  June, 
1884,  which  amounted  to  $9,000.  From  this  time  for- 
ward the  increase  of  the  capital  of  the  College  has  been 
steady,  and,  at  times,  very  material  and  gratifying. 


JAMES  A.   DUNCAN,   D.  D., 
Sutherlin  Medalist ;  Holston  Conference. 

The  Virginia  and  Baltimore  Conferences  had,  at  their 
last  session,  directed  that  all  funds  raised  this  Centennial 
year  should,  unless  otherwise  specially  noted,  go  towards 
the  endowment  fund  of  the  College. 

At  the  annual  meeting  the  following  received  de- 
grees : 


HISTOR  Y  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE.   283 


A.  M. 

THOMAS  D.  NEWSON,  Virginia. 

A.  B. 

R.  H.  BENNETT,  Virginia.  N.  H.  ROBERTSON,  Virginia. 

JAMES  CANNON,  Jr.,  Maryland.       THEODORE  H.  WHITE,  Virginia. 


JAMES   CANNON,  JR,, 
Of  Maryland :  Pace  Medalist;  President  Bla.kstone  Institute. 

James  A.  Duncan,  of  Virginia,  won  the  Sutherlin 
medal.  James  Cannon,  Jr.,  of  Maryland,  won  the  Pace 
medal.  The  number  of  matriculates  for  the  session  of 
i883~'84  was  108. 

1884-1885. 

The  session  of  i884~'S5  opened  with  in  students. 
The  President,  in  his  annual  report,  said  it  was  one  of 
the  most  satisfactory  that  had  occurred  during  his  ad- 


2S4    HISTOR  Y  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE. 

ministration.  Five  new  dormitories  had  been  built,  to 
take  the  place  of  old  ones.  Steps  were  taken  to  build 
new  houses  for  two  Professors.  He  reported  the  ac- 
ceptance of  the  chair  of  Greek  and  the  Oriental  Lan- 
guages by  Dr.  Richard  M.  Smith,  to  which  he  had  been 
elected  at  the  last  annual  meeting. 


DR.   RICHARD  M.  SMITH,  PH.  D.,  (LEIPZIG), 
Professor  of  Greek  and  the  Oriental  Languages  (iSSj-iSqd}. 

The  following  received  degrees,  June,  1885  : 

A.  M. 

R.  H.  BENNETT,  Virginia.  JAMES  M.  PAGE,  Virginia. 

HARRY  LEE  STUART,  Texas. 

A.  B. 

WM.  H.  BARLEY,  Virginia.  F.  P.  HAMMOND,  Maryland. 

EUGENE  H.  RAWLINGS,  Virginia.    CLAUDE  A.  SWANSON,  Virginia. 

Sutherlin  Medalist. — THOMAS  F.  SHERRILI.,  of  North  Carolina. 

Pace  Medalist. — JAMES  M.  PAGE,  of  Virginia. 


HISTOR  Y  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE.    285 

At  a  called  meeting,  held  in  Centenary  Church,  Rich- 
mond, Va.,  May  19,  1886,  the  following  letter  of  resigna- 
tion was  laid  before  the  Board : 

"  Bishop  A.   W.  Wilson,  President  of  the  Trustees  of  Randolph- 
Macon  College : 

"Mv  DEAR  BROTHER, — The  poor  condition  of  my 
health  through  this  entire  session  thus  far  admonishes 
me  that  I  cannot  continue  to  hold  the  presidency  of  the 


RICHARD  HEBER  BENNETT,  A.  M., 

Of  the  I  'irginia  Conference. 

College.  I  am  compelled,  therefore,  to  hand  you  this, 
my  resignation  of  the  office,  to  take  effect  on  the  ist  of 
September  next,  which  will  give  the  Trustees  a  period 
of  five  months,  though  I  am  sure  they  will  not  need  so 
much  time,  in  which  to  secure  a  suitable  person  for  my 
successor. 


286   HISTOR  Y  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE. 

"  It  is  a  source  of  great  gratification  to  me  that  I  shall 
leave  the  College  in  good  condition  in  every  respect. 


Yours  very  truly, 
"  ASHLAND,  VA.,  March  31,  1886." 


;W.  W.  BENNETT. 


THOMAS  F.   SHERRILL,  OF  N.   C., 
Siithcrlin  Medalist,  1885. 

The  resignation  of  Dr.  Bennett  was  accepted,  and  a 
committee  was  appointed  to  notify  him  of  the  action  of 
the  Board,  and  to  express  to  him  the  appreciation  by  the 
Board  of  the  value  of  his  services. 

On  motion,  it  was — 

' '  Resolved,  That  at  the  annual  meeting  in  June  next 
the  Board  will  proceed  to  fill  the  vacancy  occasioned  by 
the  resignation  of  Dr.  Bennett. ' ' 


HISTOR  Y  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE.    287 

The  President's  annual  report  gave  the  attendance  as 
124  for  the  session  ending  June,  1886. 

On  the  recommendation  of  the  Faculty,  the  following 

received  degrees,  viz. : 

A.  M. 

F.  P.  HAMMOND,  Maryland.  M.  L.  SHACKELFORD,  Virginia. 

LANGHORNE  LEITCH,  Virginia.       SYDNEY  B.  WRIGHT,  Virginia. 


JAMES  M.  PAGE,  A.   M.,   PH.  D.,  OF  VIRGINIA, 
Pace  Medalist,  1883  ;  Professor  University  of  Virginia. 

A.  B. 

THOMAS  J.  BARHAM,  Virginia.       ARTHUR  K.  DAVIS,  Virginia. 
JAMES  S.  CHAPMAN,  Virginia.         F.  V.  RUSSELL,  Virginia. 
FRANK  L.  CROCKER,  Virginia.        SAMUEL  D.  TURNER,  Virginia. 

D.  D. 

Rev.  WILBUR  F.  TILLETT,  Vanderbilt  University. 
Rev.  H.  MELVILLE  JACKSON,  Richmond,  Va. 


288    HISTOR  Y  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE. 

LL.  D. 

Prof.  JAMES  A.  HARRISON,  Washington  and  Lee  University 
Sutherlin  Medalist. — J.  S.  CHAPMAN,  of  Virginia. 
Pace  Medalist. — LANGHORNE  LEITCH,  of  Virginia. 


JAMES  S.   CHAPMAN, 
Sutherlin  Medalist ;  A  ttorney-at-Laiv. 

The  Endowment  and  Investment  Committee  made  the 
following  gratifying  announcement : 

"We  respectfully  report  that  there  has  been  raised, 
through  the  instrumentality  of  Prof.  W.  W.  Smith,  Dr. 
R.  N.  Sledd,  and  others,  $43,000,  $25,000  of  which  is  in 
the  hands  of  the  local  committee  at  Lynchburg,  and  the 
balance  in  the  hands  of  Captain  Richard  Irby  for  collec- 
tion." 


HISTOR  Y  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE.    289 

Special  credit  ought  to  be  given  here  to  the  liberal 
citizens  of  Lynchburg,  who  subscribed  this  amount  of 
endowment,  ever  since  kept  separate,  and  designated 
Lynchburg  Endowment  Fund.  This  has  brought  into 
the  current  receipts  each  year  about  $1,500.  It  was  the 
prophecy  and  forecast  of  greater  liberality  in  1891. 


LANGHORNE  LEITCH,   A.   M., 
Pace  Medalist  ;  Missionary  to  China. 

From  this  time  the  professors  and  officers  have  always 
been  paid  their  salaries  promptly.  The  direct  and  mate- 
rial aid  thus  afforded  was  of  great  benefit,  but  the  influ- 
ence of  such  action  on  other  communities  and  on  indi- 
viduals has  been  of  far  greater  value.  Lynchburg, 
therefore,  deserves,  and  should  have,  the  gratitude  of 
every  Randolph-Macon  alumnus  and  friend. 
19 


29o   HISTOR  Y  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE. 

In  the  election  to  fill  the  office  of  President  the  follow- 
ing nominations  were  made  : 

Rev.  John  D.  Blackwell,  D.  D.,  by  Paul  Whitehead. 
Rev.  Robert  N.  Sledd,  D.  D.,  by  W.  E.  Judkins. 
Rev.  Wilbur  F.  Tillett,  by  J.  E.  Edwards. 


R.   N.   SLEDD,   D.  D., 
Class  of  1855  ;  First  Vice-President  of  the  Board. 


Rev.  John  A.  Kern,  by  W.  T.  Chandler. 

Rev.  Paul  Whitehead,  D.  D..  by  P.  A.  Peterson. 

Prof.  Wm.  W.  Smith,  A.  M.,  by  Richard  Irby. 

On  the  first  ballot  Prof.  W.  W.  Smith  received  ten 
votes  out  of  twenty.  On  the  second  ballot  he  received 
twelve,  and  was  declared  elected. 


HISTOR  Y  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE.    291 

Inasmuch  as  the  history  of  the  College  has  been  so 
intimately  linked  with  the  life  of  President  Smith  for  so 
many  years,  it  is  not  necessary  to  say  much  of  him  just 
here.  He  was  born  in  Fauquier  county  in  1848.  His 
father,  Richard  M.  Smith,  afterwards  moved' to  Alex- 


PRESIDENT  \VM.   \V.   SMITH,   A.   M.,   LL.   D. 

andria,  where  he  was  associated  with  the  celebrated 
Benjamin  Hallowell  in  his  school.  Afterwards  he  be- 
came editor  of  the  Alexandria  Sentinel,  which  was 
removed  to  Richmond  at  the  breaking  out  of  hostilities, 
April,  1 86 1.  He  afterwards  edited  the  Enquirer.  At 
the  early  age  of  sixteen  William  \Vaugh  Smith  volun- 
teered in  the  Confederate  service,  in  which  he  continued 


2Q2    HISTOR  Y  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE. 

to  the  close  of  the  war.  After  the  war  he  was  asso- 
ciated with  his  father  in  the  publication  of  the  Enquirer, 
which  had  been  revived.  He  attended  the  University 


RICHARD  IRBY,   SECRETARY  AND  TREASURER. 
Elected  June,  i88t>. 

of  Virginia  one  session.  When  the  College  was  moved 
to  Ashland,  and  his  father  became  a  Professor  in  it,  he 
matriculated  at  the  College  and  took  the  degree  of  A.  M., 
with  John  Hannon,  in  1873.  After  leaving  College  he 


Rev.  R.  M.  SAUNDERS.  Chaplain 


PROF.  KNIGHT. 


MISS  LOUISE  J.  SMITH 


PROF.  SCHEHLMANN.  PROF.  ADAMS. 

FACULTY  RANDOLPH-MACON  WOMAN'S  COLLEGE,  1893-1898. 


PRESIDENT  SMITH. 


PROF.  SHARP. 


MISS  PARRISH. 


PROF.  ARMSTRONG. 

FACULTY  RANDOLPH-MACON  WOMAN'S  COLLEGE,  1893-1 


PROF   LAN  DON. 


MRS.  SAUNDERS. 


PROF.  R1DD1CK. 


PROF.  PAGE.  DK-  TERRELL. 

FACULTY  RANDOLPH-MACON  WOMAN'S  COLLEGE,  1893-1898. 


HISTOR  Y  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE.    293 

became  the  assistant  to  his  uncle,  Albert  Smith,  at 
Bethel  Academy,  near  Warrenton,  Va.,  which  rapidly 
grew  into  prominence  as  a  school.  Here  he  remained 
till  1882,  when  he  was  elected  Professor  of  Moral  and 
Mental  Science  in  Randolph-Macon  College.  In  1885  he 
showed  his  great  talent  for  raising  funds  for  the  Col- 
lege, by  securing  the  "Lynchburg  Endowment,"  in 
connection  with  Dr.  R.  N.  Sledd  and  others.  His  energy 
and  aptitude  for  administration,  in  addition  to  the  suc- 
cessful experience  he  had  gained  at  Bethel  Academy, 
pointed  him  out  as  the  man  for  the  vacant  position,  and 
subsequent  events  have  justified  the  selection. 

On  motion  of  John  P.  Branch  (substitute  for  one 
offered  by  A.  G.  Brown),  it  was 

' '  Resolved,  That  Richard  Irby  be  appointed  Secretary 
and  Treasurer,  the  same  to  give  half  of  his  time  to  the 
business  of  the  College. ' ' 

His  duties  were  defined  as  follows :  To  have  charge 
of  the  financial  and  business  concerns  of  the  College, 
and  also  of  the  library,  grounds,  buildings,  etc.  This 
office  was  accepted,  and  he  entered  upon  his  duties  the 
first  day  of  July  following. 

At  the  same  session  the  Board  proceeded  to  fill  the 
chair  of  Moral  and  Mental  Science  and  Biblical  Litera- 
ture. Rev.  John  A.  Kern,  of  the  Baltimore  Conference, 
was  elected  to  the  chair,  and  he  accepted  the  same. 

Prof.  Kern  was  a  graduate  of  the  University  of  Vir- 
ginia. In  1866  he  entered  the  Baltimore  Conference  of 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  South.  He  had  filled 
many  of  the  most  important  appointments  of  that  Con- 
ference, and  was  then,  as  now,  esteemed  a  man  of  talent, 
and  growing  year  by  year  in  ability  and  acceptability. 
The  estimate  placed  on  him  by  his  friends  was  not  too 
high,  as  his  subsequent  career  has  proven. 


294   HIST  OR  Y  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE. 

The  Board  accepted  the  libraries  which  had  been 
offered  to  it  by  the  Literary  Societies,  consisting  of  about 
four  thousand  volumes,  and  the  Librarian  was  directed 
to  consolidate  them  with  the  College  Library.  This  was 
a  much-needed  and  timely  improvement,  and  became  a 


REV.  JOHN  A.   KERN,  D.   D. 
Elected  President  of  Kandolph-Macon  College  in  l8qfj. 

nucleus  for  a  library  which,  in  course  of  time,  will  be,  it 
is  hoped,  a  credit  to  the  College. 

The  new  President  was  requested  to  continue  his 
efforts  in  raising  funds  for  the  endowment,  which  had  so 
far  been  attended  with  laudable  success.  This  he  was 
not  slow  in  heeding. 

On  account  of  failure  to  record  the  financial  statement 
of  1886,  the  exact  amount  of  net  assets  of  the  College 
cannot  here  be  given. 


HISTOR  Y  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE.    295 

The  retiring  President  served  nine  years,  almost  iden- 
tically the  same  period  served  by  his  predecessor,  Dr. 
Duncan.  His  administration  was  also,  like  Dr.  Duncan's, 
marked  by  great  financial  embarrassment,  which  had  a 
depressing  influence  on  a  sensitive  temperament  like 
his  was.  That  his  days  were  shortened  by  the  constant 
burden  of  care,  like  his  predecessor's,  can  hardly  be 
doubted.  Both  of  them  were,  in  a  sense,  martyrs  to  the 
cause  of  Christian  education. 

Dr.  Bennett  never  regained  his  health.  He  moved  to 
his  farm,  in  Louisa  county,  and  took  work  on  the  con- 
tiguous appointment  at  the  Conference  of  1886.  While 
engaged  in  the  work  of  his  charge  he  gradually  declined 
in  health,  and  died  June  7,  1887. 

REV.  W.  W.   BENNETT,  D.   D. 

"  WILLIAM  WALLACE  BENNETT,  son  of  Eli  and  Mary 
C.  Bennett,  was  born  in  the  city  of  Richmond,  February 
24,  1821.  He  was  reared  under  the  fostering  care  and 
social  surroundings  of  Methodism,  and  was  the  subject 
of  religious  impressions  from  an  early  period. 

"In  1839,  under  the  ministry  of  Rev.  Gervas  M.  Kee- 
see,  he  made  a  profession  of  religion,  and  united  with 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  in  Portsmouth.  Here, 
with  the  help  of  class-meetings  and  other  social,  as  well 
as  the  public  means  of  grace,  his  religious  experience 
had  a  healthful  beginning,  that  developed  the  elevated 
character  and  useful  life  that  our  beloved  brother  has 
bequeathed  to  the  church.  Soon  after  his  conversion, 
he,  and  several  others  who  were  exercised  about  a  call 
to  the  ministry,  met  and  conversed  upon  the  subject, 
and  prayed  for  divine  guidance,  giving  evidence  that 
when  he  entered  the  itinerancy  it  was  no  rash  adventure. 
In  the  fall  of  1841,  he  removed  to  Mecklenburg  county, 


296    HISTOR  V  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE. 

where  his  brother,  Rev.  John  R.  Bennett,  was  in  charge 
of  the  circuit.  There  he  pursued  his  studies,  obtained 
license  to  preach,  and  began  his  ministry,  passing 
through  what  he  conceived  to  be  the  crucial  test  of  his 
call  to  preach.  Discouraged,  as  he  informed  the  writer, 
by  what  he  conceived  to  be  a  failure  in  the  pulpit  before 
a  large  congregation,  he  was  tempted  to  give  up  the  min- 
istry; but  falling  in  the  hands  of  an  experienced  and 
godly  class-leader,  who  encouraged  him  by  his  counsel 
and  his  prayers,  he  returned  to  his  work  with  renewed  con- 
secration, and  a  conviction  too  strong  to  be  jostled  again. 
' '  From  the  best  information  obtained  (the  records  of 
four  years  of  this  Conference  being  lost)  he  was  admitted 
on  trial  into  the  Virginia  Conference  in  1842,  and 
travelled  as  junior  preacher  on  Louisa  and  Bedford  Cir- 
cuits. In  1 845-' 46  he  was  in  charge  of  Powhatan  Cir- 
cuit, and  in  1847  was  stationed  in  Charlottesville,  where 
he  availed  himself  of  the  educational  advantages  of  the 
University  of  Virginia,  and  graduated  in  several  of  the 
schools  in  1850.  At  the  Conference  of  this  year  he  was 
stationed  in  Washington  city,  organizing  the  first  society 
of  the  M.  E.  Church,  South,  at  our  national  capital.  In 
1851  he  was  elected  Chaplain  of  the  University  of  Vir- 
ginia, but  on  account  of  sickness  resigned  the  position. 
He  soon,  however,  regained  his  accustomed  health,  and 
in  1 852-*53  travelled  Loudoun  Circuit  with  W.  W.  Berry 
and  John  C.  Granbery,  respectively,  as  junior  preachers. 
In  i854-'55-'56-'57  he  was  Presiding  Elder  of  the  Wash- 
ington District.  While  on  this  appointment  he  was  mar- 
ried, December  20,  1855,  to  Virginia  Lee,  daughter  of 
Edward  and  Mary  Kendall  Lee  Sangster,  of  Alexandria. 
A  wise  and  happy  union.  In  i858-'59  he  was  appointed 
to  Union  Station,  Richmond,  and  in  i86o-'6i  was  sta- 
tioned at  Centenary,  in  the  same  city. 


HISTOR  Y  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE.    297 

"  In  1862  he  was  appointed  Chaplain  in  the  Confederate 
Army,  and  assigned  to  the  superintendency  of  the  Tract 
Association.  Seeing  the  necessity  of  a  more  generous 
distribution  of  Bibles  and  religious  literature  among  the 
troops,  he  arranged  to  go  abroad  for  a  supply,  and  during 
the  last  winter  of  the  war  successfully  'ran  the  block- 
ade. '  He  had  scarcely,  however,  entered  upon  the  work 
in  London  when  the  war  ended,  and  he  returned  to  Vir- 
ginia. 

' '  In  i865-'66  he  travelled  Nottoway  circuit,  and  in  No- 
vember, 1866,  was  appointed  editor  of  the  Richmond  Chris- 
tian Advocate.  By  judicious  management  and  editorial 
ability,  this  necessary  and  popular  journal  was  established 
on  a  promising  basis.  In  1874  Rev.  J.  J.  Lafferty  became 
his  associate,  who,  in  1877,  by  satisfactory  negotiations, 
assumed  control,  and  was  appointed  editor  of  the  paper. 
The  motives  influencing  Dr.  Bennett  in  this  change 
were  characteristic  of  the  man  and  the  result  of  thought- 
ful conversation.  His  successor  well  understood  him, 
and  tells  us,  in  his  affecting  notice  of  his  death,  that 
'  he  made  known  to  him  his  uneasiness  in  conscience  as 
to  his  position — that  he  was  too  stout  in  health  to  be  out 
of  the  regular  ranks.  With  much  emphasis,  he  declared 
his  wish  to  be  found  in  the  pastorate  when  God  called 
him.'  Before  the  Conference  met  in  Lynchburg  Dr. 
Bennett  had  arranged  to  change  his  position.  It  was 
then  made  to  appear  his  duty  to  go  to  the  college,  and  he 
yielded.  But  there  must  have  been  a  peculiar  joy  when 
the  summons  came  that  he  was  in  his  loved  employ — 
the  shepherd  of  a  flock. 

"In  1877  he  was  elected  President  of  Randolph  - 
Macon  College.  This  position  he  held  for  nine  years, 
during,  perhaps,  its  most  critical  history ;  but  by  able, 
kind,  and  impartial  administration,  with  the  confidence 


298    HISTOR  Y  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE. 

of  his  brethren  in  the  ministry,  the  active  co-operation 
of  his  professorial  associates,  and  the  affection  of  the 
students,  the  College  accomplished  a  noble  work.  By 
his  activity  in  visiting  throughout  the  Baltimore  and 
Virginia  Conferences  and  elsewhere,  and  under  his  stir- 
ring appeals,  the  number  of  students  compared  favorably 
with  other  institutions,  and  a  large  amount  of  money 
was  raised  in  the  interest  of  the  College.  The  senti- 
ments of  a  writer  from  the  Pacific  coast,  we  are  sure, 
find  echo  here,  that  '  Virginia  Methodism  owes  Dr.  Ben- 
nett a  great  debt  for  the  work  done  by  him  at  Randolph- 
Macon  at  the  crucial  period  of  its  history.'  He  left  the 
College  an  enduring  monument  of  his  heroic  devotion, 
but,  as  many  think,  at  the  cost  of  his  life.  At  the  close 
of  the  session  in  1886  his  health  was  so  impaired  that  he 
resigned  the  presidency  of  the  College,  and  secured  a 
retired  home  near  Trevilian's,  in  Louisa  county,  hoping 
that  relief  from  the  burdens  and  cares  of  college  work 
and  the  quiet  of  the  country  might  nurse  him  back  to 
health  again.  But,  alas!  his  disease  baffled  the  best 
medical  skill  and  the  loving  attentions  of  his  family  and 
friends.  He  was  prevailed  upon  during  the  summer  to 
visit  the  mountains,  and,  with  some  slight  improvement, 
he  was  in  his  place  at  the  last  Conference,  believing  that 
he  could  even  then  attend  to  the  work  on  some  fields 
that  would  be  open,  but  naming  none.  The  change 
-disease  had  wrought  in  his  robust  frame  was  a  subject 
of  mournful  remark  by  all  that  knew  him,  and  grave 
apprehensions  were  felt  that  he  would  never  recuperate. 
From  that  Conference  he  was  sent  to  Gordonsville  and 
Orange,  where  he  gave  for  a  time  pastoral  care  and  pul- 
pit work  that  was  surprising  to  his  friends.  But  as  the 
summer  advanced,  he  was  compelled  to  yield,  and  after  a 
short  confinement  to  his  bed,  his  earthly  labors  ended. 


HISTOR  Y  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE.    299 

"Dr.  Bennett,  in  health,  will  always  be  remembered 
by  his  acquaintances  as  an  incomparable  specimen  of 
physical  manhood,  with  a  face  bearing  the  lines  of  strong 
character.  Indeed,  he  seemed  moulded  for  any  work  or 
position  in  Methodism.  His  mental  endowments  were 
of  a  high  order.  His  early  advantages  were  such  as 
to  secure  a  good  English  education,  with  some  know- 
ledge of  Latin  ;  and  from  our  knowledge  of  the  man, 
we  may  safely  conclude  that  his  opportunities  were 
well  improved.  A  schoolmate  says  of  him  :  '  He  was 
studious,  with  great  grasp  of  intellect  and  steadiness 
of  purpose.'  The  writer,  and  others,  perhaps,  will  re- 
member his  modest  reference  to  his  fondness  for  reading 
while  a  boy,  in  using  'the  first  money  he  could  com- 
mand to  subscribe  for  the  Richmond  Advocate,'  which 
he  subsequently  edited  with  so  much  ability.  By  judi- 
cious reading  and  study,  and  by  such  collegiate  helps 
as  his  appointments  favored,  .he  became  the  peer  of 
any.  Ten  years  before  he  was  elected  President  of 
Randolph- Macon  College  he  received  from  that  insti- 
tution the  degree  of  D.  D.,  was  a  member  of  every  Gen- 
-eral  Conference  since  1858,  and  was  a  representative  of 
our  church  at  the  Ecumenical  Conference  in  London  in 
1 88 1.  The  opinion  of  the  editor  of  the  Richmond  Chris- 
tian Advocate,  no  doubt,  is  the  judgment  of  his  brethren, 
that  '  he  was  the  best-rooted  man  in  the  Conference  in 
theology,  and  saturated  with  church  history,  dogma,  and 
doctrine. ' 

' '  As  a  preacher,  he  occupied  the  front  rank  in  pulpit 
power,  and  his  discourses  were  such  as  lived  in  the 
memory  and  hearts  of  his  hearers.  '  His  sermons,'  says 
Bishop  Granbery,  '  were  stately,  elaborate,  and  massive, 
mighty  discussions  of  great  truths,  with  wide  range  of 
thought,  lucid  and  forcible  argument,  earnest,  solemn, 


300   HISTORY  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE. 

and  often  impassioned  application.'  Bishop  Doggett 
says  of  him  :  '  Bennett,  at  times,  is  the  greatest  preacher 
I  ever  heard.  His  sermon  at  the  late  camp-meeting,  on 
Matthew  xxiii.  37,  38,  surpassed  anything  I  ever  lis- 
tened to  from  the  pulpit.  His  description  of  the  deso- 
late house  I  can  never  forget.  I  remember,'  says  he, 
'  to  have  heard  him  at  Charlottes ville,  on  the  flood, 
when  for  more  than  an  hour  the  congregation  seemed 
dazed  by  the  power  of  his  eloquence.' 

' '  His  character  was  differently  analyzed  by  some  of 
his  friends,  though  all  accorded  him  unexceptionable  in- 
tegrity, a  high  order  of  piety,  and  a  noble,  generous 
heart.  His  occasional  serious  expression  and  brusque 
manner  awakened  the  suspicion  with  some  that  he  was 
wanting  in  sympathy,  but  those  who  knew  him  best  in- 
dulged no  such  estimate  of  him.  With  all  his  firmness 
of  conviction  and  stern  independence,  where  was  to  be 
found  greater  gentleness  and  consideration  of  the  feel- 
ings of  others  ?  He  was  emphatically  the  friend  of  the 
friendless,  the  persecuted  and  neglected,  and  was  un- 
changing in  his  friendships.  He  was  slow  to  find  fault, 
and  indulged  in  no  depreciation  of  others.  At  any  time 
it  required  a  great  provocation,  and  something  more  than 
mere  personal  affront  or  injury,  to  evoke  rebuke ;  but 
when  it  did  come,  it  was  felt,  but  was  more  the  utterance 
of  conscientious  impulse  than  the  ebullition  of  personal 
resentment. 

"He  was  the  head  of  a  Christian  household,  where 
piety  was  fostered  and  practised,  and  where  Methodism 
was  honored.  He,  with  his  devoted  wife,  sought  to 
make  home  attractive,  and  succeeded.  While  the  pro- 
prieties of  religious  training  and  filial  respect  were  never 
relaxed,  there  was  no  constraint  on  the  freedom  of  social 
and  religious  intercourse,  and  no  lack  of  sympathy  for 


HISTOR  Y  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE.    301 

such  enjoyments  as  were  proper,  entertaining  and  im- 
proving in  a  Christian  home.  He  was  looked  up  to  by 
his  family  as  a  practical  and  safe  counsellor,  and  beyond 
whom  there  was  rarely  even  the  desire  to  appeal.  His 
brethren,  I  am  sure,  will  endorse  the  sentiments  of  his 
distinguished  eulogist :  '  His  virtues  were  many,  stead- 
fast and  bright.  The  whole  church  will  feel  his  loss. 
The  Virginia  Conference,  as  one  man,  will  cherish  his 
memory  with  deep  admiration  and  love.' 

' '  After  his  confinement  to  bed  the  ravages  of  his  rare 
disease  were  very  rapid  and  severe.  He  early  sank  into 
a  comatose  condition,  yet  responding  when  spoken  to. 
It  will  be  gratifying  to  his  brethren,  nevertheless,  to 
know  that  his  end  was  a  great  spiritual  triumph.  On 
Monday,  June  6th,  at  an  early  hour,  with  the  family  and 
a  few  friends  about  him,  fearful  that  he  might  pass  away 
without  again  rousing  from  his  lethargy,  his  wife,  under 
her  stress  of  grief,  urged  all  to  united  prayer.  They 
knelt,  and  his  eldest  son  led  in  prayer,  expressing  assur- 
ance, of  the  blessed  result  to  the  dying  husband  and 
father,  yet  craving  a  lucid  interval  and  some  words  of 
affectionate  counsel.  In  a  few  moments  he  asked  to  be 
turned  on  his  back,  and,  opening  his  eyes,  he  exclaimed, 
'  I  am  quickened  up  into  a  higher  life ! '  When  his  wife 
exulted  in  such  an  answer  to  prayer,  he  said  :  '  My  dear, 
I  have  known  for  more  than  forty  years  that  God  answers 
prayer.'  Then,  feeling  his  pulse,  and  turning  to  Dr. 
Wills,  his  physician,  he  said :  '  I  suppose  this  thing  is 
steadily  progressing  to  the  end,  is  it  not?'  'Yes,'  said 
the  doctor,  '  but  you  have  the  Everlasting  Arms  around 
you.'  'Oh,  yes,'  he  replied,  'and  have  had  for  more 
than  forty  years,  and  they  have  never  failed  me.  But  I 
have  much  to  say,  and  must  speak  slowly,  so  I  wanted 
to  know  how  much  time — a  half  hour?'  'Yes,'  the 


302    HIST  OR  Y  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE. 

doctor  replied,  'perhaps  several  hours.'  He  then  called 
his  family — but  we  must  drop  the  curtain  on  a  scene  in 
many  respects  too  sacred  and  impossible  to  describe. 
With  affectionate  counsel  to  each,  he  commended  them 
to  God.  When  one  of  the  family  spoke  of  meeting  him 
in  heaven,  he  replied,  '  And  what  a  happy  meeting  that 
will  be  ! '  He  then  asked  his  physician  if  he  had  shown 
any  signs  of  nervousness.  When  told  he  had  not,  with 
a  tender  consideration  for  his  loved  ones,  he  said  :  'I  did 
not  want  to  excite  the  family  unnecessarily,  but  I  want 
you  all  to  know  that  there  is  not  a  cloud,  not  the  sem- 
blance of  a  shadow,  dark  or  small,  between  my  Lord 
and  me.  All  is  bright  and  clear. '  He  joined  in  singing 
that  hymn  of  Christian  triumph  commencing,  '  How 
happy  are  they,'  and  when  the  family,  by  reason  of 
their  emotions,  were  unable  to  sing,  he  carried  the  tune. 
He  then  sent  messages  of  love  to  his  friends  and  breth- 
ren. 'Give  my  love,'  said  he,  'to  the  professors  and 
students  of  Randolph- Macon  College,  and  may  the  bless- 
ing of  God  be  upon  them  and  their  work  forever/ 
Then,  with  his  heart  going  out  to  his  brethren  in  the 
ministry,  with  whom  he  had  labored  so  long  and  so  suc- 
cessfully, he  said  :  '  Give  my  love  to  the  preachers — all 
of  them.  I  am  so  weak  my  feelings  would  overcome 
me.  I  can  only  give  them  my  general  blessing. '  At 
intervals  till  he  died  the  expressions  caught  from  his 
failing  voice  were,  'Hallelujah,'  '  Glory  to  God,'  'The 
portals  on  high,'  'Always  the  blood — saved  by  it,'  and 
almost  with  his  expiring  breath,  and  as  if  descriptive  of 
his  triumphant  passage  from  earth  to  heaven,  he  ex- 
claimed, 'I  am  rising  higher  and  higher!'  and  at  1:15 
o'clock  P.  M.,  June  jih,  he  passed  away  from  his  family, 
a  wife  and  six  children,  all  one  in  Christ,  who,  though 
desolated  by[their  loss,  are  comforted  in  the  blessed  hope 
of  meeting  in  heaven. 


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HISTORY  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE.    303 

' '  His  remains  were  carried  to  Randolph- Macon  Col- 
lege, where  solemn  and  touching  services  were  held. 
The  next  day  they  were  conveyed  to  Centenary  Church, 
Richmond,  one  of  his  old  charges,  where,  by  request 
of  his  family,  Rev.  S.  S.  Lambeth,  assisted  by  Bishop 
Granbery  and  some  of  the  ministers  of  the  city  and  vi- 
cinity, in  the  presence  of  a  large  number  of  friends  and 
acquaintances,  held  appropriate  and  affecting  services. 
His  body  was  then  carried  to  Hollywood  cemetery  and 
laid  to  rest  'till  Christ  shall  bid  it  rise.'" 


This  writer  had  intended  to  bring  the  History  down 
to  June,  1898.  For  reasons  satisfactory  to  himself,  but 
not  necessary  to  be  given  here,  he  has  concluded  to  dis- 
continue the  historical  narration  of  events  which  occurred 
during  the  twelve  years  from  June,  1886,  to  1898. 

The  Appendix  will  give  some  of  the  most  important 
data,  which  may  be  interesting  to  many,  and  may  be 
used  by  the  future  historian. 

He  cannot  close  this  narration  of  events  without  again 
expressing  his  regret  at  the  imperfections  of  this  book, 
written  and  printed  under  many  interruptions  and  diffi- 
culties ;  but  he  trusts  that  the  intrinsic  interest  of  the 
narrative  will  cause  readers  to  overlook  or  forgive  its 
imperfections  and  defects. 

Hoping  that  some  more  competent  writer  may  in  due 
time  take  the  crude  materials  given,  along  with  others 
of  like  interest,  and  do  full  justice  to  the  oldest  of  Meth- 
odist Colleges  in  America,  he  lays  down  his  pen. 


APPENDIX. 


DEGREES  CONFERRED. 
SESSION  1886-1887. 

DEGREE  GRADUATES. 

A.  M. 
Eugene  H.  Ravvlings,  Virginia.     Arthur  K.  Davis,  Virginia. 

A.  B. 

George  C.  Bidgood,  Virginia.      Thomas  E.  Hunt,  Virginia. 
Edwin  W.  Bowen,  Maryland.      James  Lindsay  Patton,  Virginia. 
John  L.  Bruce,  Virginia.  Henry  R.  Pemberton,  Virginia. 

George  Shipley,  Maryland. 


RF.V.   JOHN   L.   KRfCK 
.If.'. 


306    HISTOR  Y  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE. 

D.  D. 

Rev.  Peter  Archer  Peterson,  Virginia  Conference. 

MEDALISTS. 

Sutherlin  Medalist. — W.  H.  H.  Joyce,  Maryland. 
Pace  Medalist. — James  C.  Martin,  Virginia. 


REV.  FRANK  W.   CROWDER, 
East  Neiv  York  Conference. 

SESSION  1887-1888. 

DEGREE  GRADUATES. 


George  Shipley,  Maryland. 


A.   M. 

James  C.  Martin,  Virginia. 


A.  B. 

W.  Douglas  Macon,  Virginia.  James  W.  Howell,  Virginia. 
Peyton  B.  Winfree,  Virginia.  Carlton  D.  Harris,  Virginia. 
Paul  Pettit,  Virginia.  James  C.  Dolley,  Virginia. 

Sutherlin  Medalist. — Frank  W.  Crowder,  Maryland. 

Pace  Medalist. — George  Shipley,  Maryland. 


s,   > 
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REV.  WM.  McGEE,  TRUSTEE. 

Founder  Me  Gee  Endowment  Fund. 


JOHN  P.  PETTYJOHN. 
Founder  of  Science  Hall. 


HISTOR  Y  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE.    307 

SESSION  1888-1889. 
DEGREE  GRADUATES. 

A.  M. 

Edwin  W.  Bowen,  Maryland.     Thomas  W.  Page,  Virginia. 

A.  B. 

Charles  D.  Ragland,  Virginia.    J.  Gilchrist  Herndon,  Virginia. 

B.  S. 

W.  Alphonzo  Murrill,  Virginia. 

Sutherlin  Medalist. — A.  M.  Hughlett,  Virginia. 
Pace  Medalist.— Jos.  H.  Riddick,  Jr.,  Virginia. 

D.  D. 

Rev.  A.  P.  Parker,  Missionary  to  Chiiia. 


PROF.  JOHN  L.   BUCHANAN,   LL.   D., 
Elected  r>-«/,-s.w  <;/" /-,i///;.  /S&). 


308    HISTOR  Y  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE. 


SESSION  OF  1889-1890. 

DEGREE  GRADUATES. 


A.  M. 


J.  Jordan  Leake,  Virginia. 
C.  Dabney  Ragland,  Virginia. 


John  S.  Richardson,  Virginia. 
W.  Carroll  Vaden,  Virginia. 


A.  B. 


E.  C.  Armstrong,  Maryland. 
W.  B.  Beauchamp,  Virginia. 
W.  Asbury  Christian,  Virginia. 
Wellford  H.  Cook,  Virginia. 
C.  C.  Cunningham,  Virginia. 
Samuel  W.  Eason,  Virginia. 
W.  Alphonzo  Murrill,  Virginia. 


W.  Levi  Old,  Virginia. 
Marshall  R.  Peterson,  Virginia. 
Jos.  H.  Riddick,  Jr.,  Virginia. 
Samuel  C.  Starke.  Virginia. 
H.  M.  Strickler,  Virginia. 
Walter  L.  Turner,  Virginia. 
Geo.  W.  Warren,  Virginia. 


D.  D. 

Rev.  W.  E.  Judkins,  Virginia  Conference. 
Rev.  B.  W.  Bond,  Baltimore  Conference. 

Stither  -tin  Medalist.  —  Joseph  H.  Riddick,  Jr.,  Virginia. 
Murray  Scholarship  Medalist.  —  A.  R.  Dudderar,  Maryland. 
Pace  Medalist.  —  Frank  G.  Newbill,  Virginia. 

SESSION 


A.  M. 


Chafes  Hall  Davis,  Virginia, 
Samuel  W.  Eason,  Virginia. 
De  La  Warr  B.  Easter,  Virginia. 


W.  Alphonzo  Murrill,  Virginia. 
D'Arcy  Paul  Parham,  Virginia. 
Samuel  C.  Starke,  Virginia. 


A.  B. 


Benj.  W.  Arnold,  Jr.,  Virginia. 
George  E.  Barnett,  Maryland. 
Benj.  W,  Beckham,  Virginia. 
Henry  D.  Blackwell,  Virginia. 
MajorS.  Colonna,  Jr., Virginia. 
Charles  Hall  Davis,  Virginia. 
Alfred  R.  Dudderar,  Maryland. 


Gustavus  W.  Dyer,  Virginia. 
Robert  L.  Fultz,  Virginia. 
John  Calvin  Hawk,  W.  Va. 
Aretas  M.  Hughlett,  Virginia. 
Walter  R.  Old,  Virginia. 
George  H.  Ray,  Jr.,  Virginia. 
Robert  T.  Webb,  Jr.,  Virginia. 


LL.  D. 

Prof.  C.  T.  Winchester,  of  Wesleyan  University,  Connecticut. 


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HISTORY  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGP1.    309 

D.  D. 

Rev.  Walter  R.  Lambuth,  of  Japan. 
Rev.  James  F.  Twitty,  Virginia  Conference. 
Rev.  Edward  M.  Peterson,  Virginia  Conference. 
Rev.  William  E.  Evans,  Virginia  Conference. 
Sutherlin  Medalist. — Robert  W.  Patton,  of  Virginia. 


REV.    ROBERT  W.   PATTON, 
Chaplain  of  2nd  I  'irgiuia  Regiment  ( 

SESSION  1891-1892. 


A.  M. 


George  Pilcher,  Virginia. 

A. 

R.  H.  T.  Adams,  Jr.,  Virginia. 
Hall  Canter,  Virginia. 
Wm.  Holmes  Davis,  Virginia. 
Thos.  R.  Freeman,  Virginia. 
Willie  D.  Keene,  Virginia. 


Charles  L.  Melton,  Virginia. 
B. 

David  H.  Kern,  W.  Virginia. 
Bolivar  Clarke  Nettles,  Texas. 
Scott  Ray,  Virginia. 
W.  R.  Smithwick,  N.  Carolina. 
J.  S.  Zimmerman,  Maryland. 


Harry  L.  Moore,  Maryland. 


3io    HISTOR  Y  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE. 

Sutherlin  Medalist. — I.  W.  Eason,  Virginia. 
Pace  Medalist. — Jos.  N.  Latham. 

Murray  Medals. — Scholarship,  Harry  Ludwell  Moore,  Mary- 
land ;  Proficiency,  James  Elliott  Wamsley,  Virginia. 


HARRY  LUDWELL  MOORE,  A.   B.,  PH.   D., 

Instructor  at  Johns  Hopkins  University;  Professor  Smith  College^  Massachusetts. 


SESSION  1892-1893. 

A.  M. 

C.  C.  Cunningham,  Virginia.        Homer  H.  Sherman,  Virginia. 
Geo.  W. ^Russell,  Virginia.  Wm.  J.  Whitesell,  Virginia. 

A.  B. 

R.  H.  Hood,  North  Carolina.        Alfred  C.  Ray,  Virginia. 
James  T.  Myers,  Maryland.  Clarence  H.  Rector,  Virginia. 

B.  S. 

Homer  H.  Sherman,  Virginia. 


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HISTOR  V  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE.    311 

D.  D. 
Rev.  \V.  J.  Young,  Virginia  Conference. 

Slither lin  Medalist. — Joseph  Deming  Langley,  Virginia. 
Murray  Medalists.— Scholarship,  Homer  H.  Sherman,  Vir- 
ginia ;  Proficiency,  Thomas  M.  Jones,  Virginia. 


REV.  JAMES  T.   MYERS,  A.  B., 

Jfissioitary  to  Japan. 

SESSION  1893-1894. 

A.  M. 

E.  C.  Armstrong,  Maryland.         *  John  W.  Jones,  Idaho. 
B.  W.  Arnold,  Jr.,  Virginia.          Frank  G.  Newbill,  Virginia. 
*R.  Ferguson,  Sr.,  Virginia.         Andrew  Sledd,  Virginia. 
R.  Ferguson,  Jr.,  Virginia.  James  E.  Wamsley,  Virginia. 

A.  M.  Hughlett,  Virginia. 

*  Under  the  old  law  existing  when  his  A.  B.  was  taken. 


3i2    HISTORY  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE. 


JOS.   D.   LANGLEY, 
Sutherlin  Medalist — 1893. 

A.  B. 

W.  M.  Blanchard,  N.  Carolina.     W.  T.  A.  Haynes,  Virginia. 
R.  W.  Buchanan,  Virginia.  Thos.  M.  Jones,  Virginia. 

H.  M.  Carter,  Dist.  Columbia.      John  L.  Terrell,  Texas. 
Evan  A.  Edwards,  Maryland.       S.  H.  Turner,  Virginia. 
Ernest  Linwood  Wright,  Virginia. 

D.  D. 

Rev.  William  H.  Christian,  Virginia  Conference. 
Sutherlin  Medalist. — Andrew  Sledd,  Virginia. 

Murray  Medalists. — Scholarship,    Thomas    Madison   Jones, 
Virginia;  Proficiency,  George  Virgil  Rector,  Virginia. 


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HISTOR  Y  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE.    313 

SESSION   1894-1895. 
A.  M. 

Benj.  M.  Beckham,  Virginia.        C.  G.  Evans,  North  Carolina. 
Henry  A.  Christian,  Virginia.       Josiah  D.  Hank,  Jr.,  Virginia. 


THOMAS  MADISON  JONES, 

Murray  Scholarship  Medalist,  1894. 


A.   B. 


C.  E.  Armentrout,  Virginia. 
Carroll  M.  Baggarly,  Virginia. 
Irving  H.  Black  well,  Virginia. 
Henry  A.  Christian,  Virginia. 
C.  G.  Evans,  North  Carolina. 
Howard  Fletcher,  Virginia. 
Josiah  D.  Hank,  Jr.,  Virginia. 


John  B.  Henry.  Maryland. 
Robert  C.  Howison,  Virginia. 
Richard  E.  Leigh,  Mississippi. 
Daniel  T.  Merritt,  Virginia. 
Benj.  F.  Montgomery, Virginia. 
James  T.  Porter,  Maryland. 
A.  H,  Whisner,  West  Virginia. 


Ernest  Lee  Woolf ,  Virginia. 


314    HISTORY  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE. 

D.  D. 
Rev.  John  C.  Kilgo,  President  Trinity  College,  North  Carolina. 

Sutherlin  Medalist. — David  Spence  Hill,  Missouri. 
Murray  Medalists. — Proficiency,    Marvin   E.  Smithey,  Vir- 
ginia ;  Scholarship,  Charles  E.  Armentrout,  Virginia. 


HAV1I)  SPENCE  HILL, 

Satlicrlii!  Medalist^  rSgj. 


SESSION  1895-1896. 

JUNE,   1896. 
RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE. 

A.  M. 

W.  S.  Anderson,  West  Virginia.     N.  H.  Robertson,  Virginia. 
Clinton  M.  Kilby,  Virginia.  Stephen  H.  Watts,  Virginia. 


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HISTOR  Y  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE.    315 

A.  B. 

John  F.  Blackwell,  Virginia.  John  S.  Poindexter,  Virginia. 

Stephen  D.  Boyd,  Jr.,  Virginia.  John  H.  Robertson,  Virginia. 

Henry  O'B.  Cooper,  Virginia.  Marvin  E.  Smithey,  Virginia. 

Patrick  H.  Drewry,  Virginia.  John  A.  G.  Shipley.  Maryland. 

John  C.  Granbery,  Jr., Virginia.  George  T.  Tyler,  Jr.,  Virginia. 

F.  W.  Hilbert,  Maryland.     '  Charles  W.  Watts,  Virginia. 

James  Mullen,  Virginia.  P.  H.  Williams,  North  Carolina. 

Sutherlin  Medalist. — Boyd  Valentine  Switzer,  Virginia. 
Pace  Medalist. — Walter  Sewall  Anderson,  West  Virginia. 
Murray  Medalists. — Scholarship,  Patrick  H.  Williams,  North 
Carolina;  Proficiency,  Frank  Allen  Simpson,  Virginia. 

RANDOLPH-MACON  WOMAN'S  COLLEGE. 

A.  M. 

Emma  E.  Cheatham,  Virginia.     E.  B.Williams,  North  Carolina. 

JUNE,  1897. 
RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE. 

A.  M. 

W.  M.  Blanchard,  N.  Carolina.     Bradford  Kilby,  Virginia. 
Horace  Campbell,  Virginia.  Albert  H.  Licklider,  Virginia. 

Hall  Canter,  Maryland.  G.  V.  Litchfield,  Jr.,  Virginia. 

Henry  O'B.  Cooper,  Virginia.       James  E.  McCartney,  Virginia. 
Fred.  W.  Hilbert,  Maryland.         George  T.  Tyler,  Jr.,  Virginia. 

A.  B. 

William  H.  Best,  Maryland.          David  Hough  Dolly,  Virginia. 
William  Veitch  Boyle,  Maryland.  John  Henry  Dulin,  Virginia. 
Karl  S.  Blackwell,  Virginia.          Neil  Courtice  Scott,  Virginia. 
William  B.  Colonna,  Virginia.      Frank  A.  Simpson,  Virginia. 
Boyd  Ashby  Wise,  Virginia. 

D.  D. 

Rev.  Collins  Denney,   Baltimore  Conference,  Prof.  Vander- 
bilt  University. 

Sittherlin  Me  da  list.—  William  Martin  Blanchard,  North  Car- 
olina. 

21 


3i6    HISTOR  Y  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE. 

Murray  Medalists.— Scholarship,    Frank  A.    Simpson,  Vir- 
ginia; Proficiency,  George  L.  Bradford,  Virginia. 


RANDOLPH-MACON  WOMAN'S  COLLEGE. 

A.  M. 

Sallie  Adams,  Virginia.  Martha  A.  Franklin,  Virginia. 

Esten  Holmes  Jennings,  West  Virginia. 

A.  B. 

Celeste  Alspaugh,  N.  Carolina.     Edith  S.  Black  well,  Virginia. 
Martha  McGavock,  Virginia. 

SESSION  1897-1898. 

Randolph-Macon  College,  since  June,  1886,  has  grown 
into  a  system  of  colleges  (female  as  well  as  male),  and 
fitting  schools  for  both  sexes.  At  the  joint  commence- 
ment, held  at  Lynchburg,  Va.,  June  6-9,  1898,  all  these 
schools  were  represented.  The  Lynchburg  Daily  News 
gave  the  report  of  the  commencement,  as  follows  : 

"The  big  Randolph-Macon  joint  commencement  was 
formally  opened  by  a  reception  tendered  the  visiting  stu- 
dents, alumni,  and  friends  of  the  school  at  the  Woman's 
College.  An  address  of  welcome  was  made  by  Chancel- 
lor W.  W.  Smith.  The  night  was  beautiful,  the  skies 
being  clear  and  studded  with  glittering  stars.  An  im- 
mense crowd  was  present,  and  the  profound  silence  that 
prevailed  during  the  speech  evidenced  the  deep  interest 
with  which  it  was  being  received. 

"The  various  trains  yesterday  brought  the  students 
and  the  visiting  alumni  to  the  city.  'The  Union  station 
on  their  arrival  presented  an  animated  scene.  The 
young  men  and  young  ladies  seemed  determined  to 
make  of  the  occasion  a  delightful  excursion,  and  an  ex- 
perience worth  carrying  in  their  memories  for  many 


HISTOR  Y  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE.    317 

years  to  come.  Everybody  remarked  on  the  personnel 
of  the  students,  and  their  quiet  demeanor.  They  made 
a  fine  impression,  and  their  sojourn  in  the  city  promises 
to  be  profitable  to  all  interested. 

"  Randolph- Macon  College  is  represented  by  about 
ninety  students ;  the  Front  Royal  Academy,  by  seventy ; 
Bedford  City  Academy,  by  about  eighty ;  the  Blackstone 
Female  Institute,*  by  one  hundred  and  thirty-five ;  and 
the  Danville  Female  Institute,  by  sixty.  As  there  are 
at  the  Randolph-Macon  Woman's  College,  including  the 
day  scholars,  two  hundred  and  twenty  young  ladies,  the 
total  number  of  students  present  is  between  six  and 
seven  hundred. 

' '  To  adequately  describe  the  appearance  of  the  College 
with  its  elaborate  decorations  would  be  a  herculean  task. 
All  that  artistic  taste  and  ingenuity  of  invention  could 
suggest  was  abundantly  in  evidence.  As  the  street-cars 
moved  rapidly  over  the  hill  at  the  base-ball  park  in  the 
direction  of  the  College,  the  first  glimpse  of  the  building 
was  obtained.  To  the  observer  it  looked  like  a  light 
glimmering  and  glowing  in  the  night.  As  the  car  drew 
nearer  it  was  seen  that  the  large  structure,  from  one  end 
to  the  other  and  all  over  the  front,  was  alive  with  vari- 
colored Chinese  and  Japanese  lanterns,  which  shed  a 
soft  and  pleasant  radiance  over  the  scene.  On  the  big 
campus,  hanging  to  the  branches  of  the  trees  and  ar- 
ranged in  symmetrical  lines  on  hundreds  of  poles,  were 
lanterns  without  end.  Down  to  the  left  of  the  building, 
where  the  ground  slopes  gently  to  a  ravine,  seats  were 
placed  in  comfortable  positions.  Everybody  seemed  to 
be  there  for  the  purpose  of  spending  a  pleasant  time  and 
contributing  to  his  neighbor's  happiness.  Callers  were 
received  in  the  large  and  spacious  parlor  on  the  first 

*Not  a  school  of  the  system,  but  present  by  special  invitation. 


3i8    HISTOR  Y  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE. 

floor  just  to  the  left  of  the  main  entrance.  To  everyone 
was  extended  such  a  warm,  cordial  welcome  that  he  felt 
at  once  as  if  he  were  perfectly  at  home  and  as  if  he  were 
just  where  he  ought  to  be. 

TUESDAY. 

"While  the  reception  Monday  night  at  the  Woman's 
College  may  be  said  to  have  opened  the  exercises  of 
the  Randolph- Macon  joint  commencement,  yet  Tuesday 
morning  the  first  regular  programme  was  carried  out  in 
the  auditorium  at  Moorman's  Warehouse,  which,  long 
before  the  time  announced  for  the  first  number,  was 
crowded  with  a  happy,  well-dressed  and  interested  au- 
dience. 

"In  the  bright  sunlight  of  the  pleasant  morning  the 
scene  presented  in  the  auditorium  was  indeed  good  to 
look  upon.  The  draping  of  the  entire  edifice  was  most 
skillfully  carried  out ;  the  ceiling  covered  with  blue  and 
white  cloth,  while  the  sides  of  the  building  were  hidden 
by  artistic  folds  of  lemon  and  black. 

"A  well-built  stage,  extending  the  entire  width  of  the 
spacious  auditorium,  and  decorated  with  potted  plants 
and  flowers,  afforded  plenty  of  room  for  the  speakers, 
visitors,  and  contestants  for  honors.  Arrangements 
were  made  to  comfortably  seat  some  two  or  three  thou- 
sand people,  fully  that  many  chairs  being  placed  in 
regular  rows,  divided  by  two  aisles  extending  the  length 
of  the  hall. 

"The  pupils  of  the  different  schools  and  colleges  be- 
ing among  the  first  to  arrive,  the  spare  time  was  utilized 
for  a  rehearsal  of  college  songs,  interspersed  with  the 
different  college  yells  of  the  system,  some  of  which  oc- 
casioned hearty  laughter. 

"Upon  the  arrival  of  Chancellor  Smith,  the  represen- 


HISTOR  Y  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE.    319 

titives  of  the  various  schools  of  the  system  took  their 
places  upon  the  stage,  as  well  as  those  pupils  who  were 
to  contest  for  the  elocution  and  declaimer's  medals. 
After  music  by  the  band  and  prayer  by  Rev.  Oscar  Lit- 
tleton, the  first  number  was  announced,  it  being  a  con- 
test for  the  declaimer's  medal  of  Randolph-Macon  Acad- 
emy, of  Bedford  City.  Mr.  J.  K.  Holman  opened  with 
a  humorous  selection  entitled  '  Uncle  Peter  and  the  Trolly 
Car.'  He  was  followed  by  Mr.  W.  E.  Wood,  who  de- 
claimed an  historical  poem  of  the  revolutionary  period, 
'The  Black  Horse  and  His  Rider.'  Between  this  con- 
test and  the  next  the  pupils  of  the  Bedford  school,  accom- 
panied by  the  band,  rendered  with  much  spirit  an 
'  Academy '  song,  the  words  of  which  were  composed 
by  Wirt  Hollo  way,  a  pupil. 

' '  A  contest  for  the  recitation  medal  of  the  Randolph- 
Macon  Institute,  of  Danville,  followed,  the  first  being 
Miss  Janie  Howard,  who  had  chosen  a  dialect  story, 
'Rubaiyat  of  Doc  Sifers.'  'The  Set  of  Turquoise'  was 
delivered  by  Miss  Sue  Bethel.  The  young  ladies  of  the 
Danville  Institute  then  closed  their  part  of  the  programme 
with  their  favorite  song,  '  The  Lemon  and  Black,'  in  the 
course  of  which  they  were  assisted  by  the  young  men  of 
the  system. 

"  J.  William  Kight  came  forward  as  a  representative 
of  the  Academy  at  Front  Royal,  and  with  a  humorous 
description  of  a  New  England  debating  society,  in  which 
he  gave  practical  illustrations  of  the  different  classes  of 
village  oratory. 

"Mr.  J.  L.  Humphrey,  also  of  the  Front  Royal  Acad- 
emy, gave  a  declamation  entitled  '  Laska.' 

"The  contest  for  the  Woman's  College  medal  was  in- 
troduced by  Miss  Nellie  Underwood,  whose  subject  was 
'The  Courtin'  of  T'Nowhead's  Bell.' 


320    HISTORY  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE. 

"  Miss  Underwood  was  followed  by  Miss  Hathryn  P. 
Acree,  whose  subject  was  '  Parhassius  and  the  Captive.' 

"The  rendition  of  the  Woman's  College  song,  'Merry 
Girls  of  R.  M.  W.  C.,'  was  followed  by  the  contest  for 
the  Woman's  College  Medal  for  best  address.  The  con- 
testants were  Miss  Addie  Taylor  and  Miss  Sadie  Jacobs. 
Miss  Taylor  was  the  first  speaker.  Her  subject  was 
'The  Supremacy  of  the  Anglo-Saxon.'  Miss  Jacobs' 
subject  was  '  Demands  of  Our  Civilization.' 

' '  The  closing  exercise  was  the  contest  for  the  Suther- 
lin  orator's  medal  of  the  Randolph- Macon  College,  Ash- 
land. The  contestants  were  F.  Raymond  Hill,  B.  A. 
Wise,  E.  K.  Odell,  and  S.  M.  Janney. 

"  Mr.  Hill  opened  the  contest  with  an  oration  on  'The 
Price  of  Progress.' 

"  Mr.  Janney's  subject  was  'What  For?' 

"  'The  Power  of  a  Noble  Example '  was  the  subject  of 
Mr.  Wise's  oration. 

"Mr.  Odell  followed  in  an  oration  entitled,  'De  Ora- 
toribus.' 

4 '  The  exercises  were  closed  with  the  singing  of  the 
'  Commencement  Chorus . ' 

"A  feature  of  the  morning's  programme,  which  was 
of  a  decidedly  interesting  character,  was  the  calisthenic 
drill,  under  the  direction  of  Miss  Alice  Hargrove,  of  a 
number  of  young  ladies  of  the  Woman's  College. 

FIELD-DAY  EXERCISES. 

"Tuesday  afternoon  was  devoted  to  field  day  exer- 
cises in  the  Rivermont  base-ball  park.  A  sound  mind 
in  a  sound  body  has  for  a  long  time  been  a  leading  maxim 
in  the  Randolph- Macon  system.  Each  institution  has 
its  well-equipped  gymnasium,  under  the  instruction  of 
•an  efficient  instructor,  and  during  the  unseasonable  days 


HISTORY  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE.    321 

of  winter  every  student  of  the  system  is  required  to  go 
through  an  hour's  drill  in  the  gymnasium  three  after- 
noons in  the  week. 

' '  The  average  man  gets  his  idea  of  college  athletics 
from  the  base-ball  and  foot-ball  teams,  which  generally 
tour  the  State  annually.  Randolph-Macon  recognizes 
the  fact  that  base-ball  and  foot-ball  are  but  a  small  part  of 
college  athletics,  and  consequently  every  student  is  en- 
couraged to  allot  a  portion  of  his  time  to  the  general 
training  of  his  body,  and  especially  to  athletic  feats  re- 
quiring more  or  less  skill  and  grace.  In  early  spring,  at 
each  school  in  the  system,  a  day  known  as  Field-Day 
is  set  aside  for  athletic  exercises,  for  which  prizes  and 
medals  are  offered  as  a  special  inducement,  to  ensure  a 
large  number  of  contestants. 

THE  CONCERT. 

"Tuesday  night  a  concert  was  given  at  the  Opera- 
House  by  the  young  ladies  of  the  Woman's  College  and 
the  Danville  Female  Institute.  Of  the  character  of  the 
music  of  the  programme  the  highest  praise  has  been 
spoken.  In  the  instrumental  and  the  chorus  selections 
the  participants  presented  music  of  the  highest  perfec- 
tion— music  that  possessed  a  charm  and  inspiration  for 
every  listener. 

WEDNESDAY. 

"About  half- past  nine  o'clock  Wednesday  morning 
the  students  of  the  several  schools  and  colleges,  together 
with  the  alumni,  met  at  old  St.  Paul's  Church,  on  Church 
street,  and  there,  after  forming  into  a  procession  and  led 
by  the  band,  marched  to  the  auditorium.  Here  the 
graduating  class,  in  orthodox  cap  and  gown,  ascended 
the  stage,  where,  with  the  alumni,  they  were  seated  in 


322    HISTOR  Y  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE. 

chairs  arranged  in  semi-circular  lines,  forming  altogether 
a  pleasing  and  impressive  picture. 

"A  few  minutes  were  spent  in  rehearsing  college 
songs.  In  this  connection  it  may  be  well  to  note  that 
the  Randolph- Macon  system  is  rich  with  songs  suitable 
for  commencement  season,  and  written  principally  by 
those  who  have  studied  within  its  classic  halls.  After 
prayer  by  Rev.  Dr.  James  A.  Duncan,  of  Knoxville, 
Tenn.,  Mr.  W.  S.  Bell,  president  of  the  Class  of  '98,  in- 
troduced Miss  Blanche  E.  Cheatham,  of  Martinsville, 
who  delivered  the  salutatory  address. 

"The  history  of  the  Class  of  '98  and  its  twenty-nine 
members  was  told  by  Mr.  J.  T.  Porter,  and  as  each  name 
was  called  it  was  greeted  with  applause,  while  the  his- 
torian made  a  brief  comment  upon  its  owner.  The  Class 
song  of  '98,  composed  by  Mr.  E.  T.  Adams,  Jr.,  was 
next  sung,  after  which  Miss  Lily  G.  Egbert,  of  Atlee, 
Va.,  read  the  class  poem,  an  original  composition  entitled 
'  The  Evolution  of  a  Soul.' 

"Mr.  J.  E.  McCulloch,  of  Roanoke,  delivered  the 
class  oration. 

"The  Hall  song,  evidently  a  favorite  with  the  male 
students,  was  sung  with  considerable  spirit,  especially 
the  chorus,  which  eulogizes  as  '  the  very  best  of  all '  the 
two  halls  of  the  two  rival  literary  societies,  those  of 
Washington  and  Franklin.  The  president  of  the  class 
next  introduced  Miss  Eloise  Richardson,  of  Richmond, 
who  read  a  class  prophecy,  in  which  she  drew  vivid 
pictures  of  the  bright  futures  awaiting  many  of  this 
year's  class. 

"  Mr.  Sydenstricker,  of  Loudoun,  read  a  paper  entitled 
'  Recommendations. '  In  it  he  indicated,  with  a  prescient 
knowledge  of  seemingly  remarkable  accuracy,  the  future 
employments  and  professions  of  the  members  of  the 


HISTOR  Y  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE.    323 

graduating  classes  of  Randolph- Macon  College,  Ashland, 
and  the  Woman's  College,  Lynchburg. 

"After  singing  "Gaudeamus,'  the  last  will  and  testa- 
ment of  the  graduating  classes  of  the  two  institutions 
was  read  by  Mr.  F.  C.  Campbell,  of  Ashland.  Again 
was  the  audience  treated  to  a  series  of  '  hits '  at  the  ex- 
pense of  certain  members  of  the  faculties,  pupils,  etc.,  of 
the  two  schools. 

"The  valedictory  of  Mr.  F.  R.  Hill,  of  West  Virginia, 
the  next  feature  of  the  programme,  was  an  eloquent  and 
interesting  address,  and  in  its  delivery  made  a  deep  im- 
pression on  the  large  audience.  Mr.  Hill,  unlike  the 
majority  of  college  valedictorians,  introduced  into  his 
composition  much  originality  of  thought  and  feeling. 
His  manner  was  marked  by  that  simplicity  which  always 
distinguishes  the  true  orator,  and  which  invariably  at- 
tracts and  holds  the  closest  attention  of  an  audience. 

MR.  TILLETT'S  ADDRESS. 

"After  singing  'The  Randolph- Macon  Roundelay,' 
the  alumni  address  was  delivered  by  Hon.  Charles  W. 
Tillett,  of  North  ^Carolina.  This  eloquent  speaker  dwelt 
in  feeling  terms  upon  the  great  Randolph- Macon  Sys- 
tem. The  foundation,  he  declared,  had  been  laid  with 
enduring  material,  and  to-day  all  could  unite  in  applaud- 
ing the  distinguished  success  of  the  master  hand.  The 
occasion  was  one  on  which  a  little  glorification  was  par- 
donable, and  every  Randolph- Macon  man  and  woman 
might  well  feel  proud  of  his  or  her  alma  mater,  and  particu- 
larly of  the  joint  commencement,  which  they  all  recog- 
nized as  the  grandest  and  most  successful  commence- 
ment of  Randolph-Macon's  career. 

' '  The  exercises  were  brought  to  a  close  with  the  sing- 
ing of  the  song,  '  Alma  Mater,  O.' 


324   HISTOR  Y  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE. 

THE  BALL  GAME. 

"An  immense  crowd  gathered  at  the  park  in  the 
afternoon  to  witness  the  ball  game  between  the  Bedford 
and  the  Front  Royal  Academies.  The  boys  from  Bed- 
ford had  the  best  of  the  contest  from  start  to  finish,  and 
won  out  by  a  score  of  1 3  to  i . 

FRANKLIN  HALL. 

' '  At  night  the  exercises  of  the  '  Frank '  Hall  were  in- 
troduced with  prayer  by  Rev.  W.  H.  Atwill.  The  de- 
clamations were:  'The  Fireman's  Prayer/  by  W.  W. 
Wood,  of  Bedford;  'The  Innocent  Drummer,'  by  Miss 
Bethel,  of  Danville,  and  'The  Village  Schoolmaster,'  by 
J.  L.  Humphrey.  W.  J.  Gills,  of  the  College,  delivered 
an  oration  on  'True  Patriotism,'  and  the  exercises  closed 
with  an  essay  by  Miss  Lula  B.  Woolridge,  of  the 
Woman's  College,  on  'Triumphant  Life.'  The  Society 
medals  were  awarded  as  follows:  John  Kilby,  of  Suf- 
folk, for  declamation ;  F.  C.  Campbell,  of  Ashland,  for 
debate,  and  Marvin  E.  Smithey,  of  Brunswick,  for  im- 
provement in  debate. 

THE  ALUMNI  BANQUET. 

"The  annual  banquet  of  the  Alumni  Association  was 
held  at  the  '  Carroll '  Wednesday  night  from  1 1  to  2 
o'clock.  After  half  an  hour's  feasting,  the  remaining 
time  was  devoted  to  speeches  of  prominent  members  of 
the  Association.  The  following  toasts  were  responded 
to:  '  Randolph- Macon  College,'  Dr.  J.  A.  Kern;  '  Ran- 
dolph-Macon  Woman's  College,'  Dr.  N.  Knight;  '  Ran- 
dolph-Macon  Academy'  (Bedford),  Principal  E.  Sumter 
Smith  ;  '  Randolph-Macon  Academy  '  (Front  Royal),  Dr. 
B.  W.  Arnold;  'Randolph-Macon  Institute'  (Danville), 
Miss  Nellie  Black  well ;  '  Blackstone  Female  Institute,' 


HISTOR  Y  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE.    325 

Rev.  James  Cannon,  Jr. ;  'Board  of  Trustees,'  Dr.  E.  B. 
Prettyman  ;  '  Randolph- Macon  of  1898,'  J.  E.  McCul- 
loch;  'The  Alumni,'  Charles  W.  Tillett ;  'Glories  of 
the  Past,'  Captain  Richard  Irby;  ' Randolph-Macon  of 
the  Future,'  Dr.  W.  W.  Smith." 


EDWARD  S.   BROWN,  A.   B. 

The  oldest  alumnus  present  was  Edward  S.  Brown 
-(Class  1843),  a  prominent  and  most  estimable  citizen  of 
Lynchburg,  who  matriculated  in  1837-. 

Letters  were  received  from  the  oldest  alumnus  now 
living,  and  one  of  the  members  of  the  graduating  Class 
of  1839,  who,  with  Thomas  H.  Garnett,  of  Buckingham 
county,  Va.,  of  same  class,  still  survives. 

The  oldest  living  alumnus,  Dr.  Theophilus  S.  Stewart, 


326    HISTOR  Y  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE. 


of  Marietta,  Ga.,  graduated  in  1836.  He  accompanied 
Dr.  Olin  to  Europe,  and  took  his  degree  of  M.  D.  in  Paris 
in  1839. 

The  letters  of  Dr.  Stewart  and  Rev.  James  F.  Smith, 
of  Spartanburg,  S.  C.,  referred  in  tenderest  terms  to  the 
College. 


DR.  THEOPHILUS  S.   STEWART,  A.   B., 

(Class,  rSjb.) 

"  Thursday. — The  opening  prayer  was  made  by  Rev. 
Dr.  Arnold,  of.  North  Carolina,  at  the  conclusion  of 
which  the  Commencement  hymn  (No.  i)  was  sung  by 
the  students  to  the  air  of  '  America,'  all  standing.  Bishop 
Vincent,  of  Kansas,  the  speaker  of  the  occasion,  was 
then  introduced  by  the  chancellor.  The  Bishop,  who  is 
a  man  of  fine  appearance,  with  a  pleasant  voice,  launched 


HISTORY  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE.    327 

forth  in  these  words  :  '  Notable  days  to  the  individual, 
to  associations,  to  state  and  to  church,  come  into  all  lives. 
This  is  an  interesting  day  to  the  individual,  to  families, 
and  to  the  institution.  It  is  a  day  of  an  ending  and  a 
day  of  a  beginning.  I  see  a  picture,  as  I  stand  in  this 
place  to-day,  of  closing  doors  and  of  doors  ajar — the 
end  of  complete  or  partial  course  of  study  and  the  begin- 
ning of  lessons  in  the  great  school  of  life.  Here,  with 
the  fragrance  and  flowers,  under  the  spell  of  music,  be- 
neath these  glorious  skies  and  amid  these  mountains  of 
Virginia,  we  need  not  only  to  look  backward,  but  to  look 
forward.' 

"  He  closed  his  address  as  follows  :  'Above  all  things, 
a  man  wants  character ;  for  if  you  presented  yourself  at 
the  gate  of  heaven  without  the  quality  that  would  make 
you  worthy  to  dwell  there,  you  would  find  the  beauties 
and  glories  of  the  home  of  God  uncongenial  to  you. 
Live,  not  that  you  may  have  your  name  in  Washington 
with  a  big  pension  or  something  of  that  kind,  but  in 
order  that  you  may  contribute  to  the  betterment  of  the 
environment  of  those  about  you.' 

' '  To  the  students  before  him  he  said  he  would  recom- 
mend the  whole  world  and  the  universe  as  a  university 
in  which  to  learn  and  in  which  to  strive  to  ascend  to  the 
university  of  the  most  high  God. 

HONORS  AWARDED. 

"After  a  song,  'Columbia,  the  Pride  of  the  Nation,' 
the  distinguished  under-graduates  were  announced  by 
printed  sheets.  Then  followed  the  awarding  of  prizes 
and  medals,  the  Randolph- Macon  Institute,  of  Danville, 
being  first,  followed  in  regular  order  by  the  Randolph- 
Macon  Academy,  Bedford  City;  Randolph- Macon  Acad- 
emy, Front  Royal ;  Randolph-Macon  Woman's  College, 
Lynchburg,  and  Randolph-Macon  College,  Ashland. 


328    HISTOR  Y  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE. 

"Diplomas  in  courses  were  awarded  by  President 
Kern,  of  the  Randolph- Macon  College,  and  Vice- Presi- 
dent Knight,  of  the  Randolph- Macon  Woman's  College. 

THE  GRADUATES. 
' '  Degrees  were  conferred  on  the  following : 

RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE. 
A.  M. 

Karl  S.  Blackwell,  Virginia.          James  T.  Porter,  Virginia. 
A.  Judson  Chalkley,  Virginia.       Raymond  R.  Ross,  Virginia. 
David  Hough  Dolly,  Virginia.      Frank  A.  Simpson,  Virginia. 
James  C.  Dolly,  Kentucky.  Marvin  E.  Smithey,  Virginia. 

Boyd  Ashby  Wise,  Virginia. 

A.  B. 

William  Solon  Bell,  Virginia.  Alfred  Allen  Kern,  Virginia. 

William  G.  Burch,  Virginia.  LeRoy  E.  Kern,  Virginia. 

F.  C.  Campbell,  Virginia.  James  E.  McCulloch,  Virginia. 

Merrick  Clements,  Maryland.  Geo.  L.  Neville,  Jr.,  Virginia. 

Carl  Hall  Davis,  Virginia.  Arthur  V.  Nunnally,  Virginia. 

F.  B.  Fitzpatrick,  Virginia.  Robert  H.  Sheppe,  Virginia. 

Frank  R.  Hill,  West  Virginia.  Hampden  H.  Smith,  Virginia. 

Edward  B.  Jones,  Virginia.  H.  Sydenstricker,  W.  Virginia. 
James  T.  Walker,  Virginia. 

RANDOLPH-MACON  WOMAN'S  COLLEGE. 
A.  B. 

Lily  Garland  Egbert,  Virginia.     Blanche  E.  Cheatham, Virginia. 
Eloise  Richardson,  Virginia.          Cornelia  Poindexter,  Virginia. 

MEDALISTS. 

Sutherlin  Medal. — Samuel  McPherson  Janney,  Virginia. 
Murray  Medals. — Proficiency  Medal,  Thomas  Moody  Camp- 
bell, Virginia ;  Scholarship  Medal,  George  Lafayette  Bradford, 
Virginia — of  Randolph-Macon  College. 

Walton  Greek  Prize. — David  H.  Dolly,  Virginia.    • 
Medal  for  Best  Essay. — Sadie  Jacobs,  Virginia — of  Randolph- 
Macon  Woman's  College. 


HISTOR  Y  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE.     329 

WASHINGTON  SOCIETY. 

' '  With  the  excellent  programme  of  the  annual  cele- 
bration of  the  Washington  Literary  Society  the  exercises 
of  the  joint  commencement  of  the  Randolph- Macon  sys- 
tem of  educational  institutions  were  brought  to  a  close. 

"Prayer  was  offered  by  Bishop  Granbery,  after  which 
Edwin  B.  Jones,  president  of  the  society,  welcomed 
those  present,  and  introduced  J.  W.  Kight,  of  Front 
Royal,  who  entertained  his  hearers  with  a  short,  humor- 
ous sketch.  Miss  Swanson,  of  the  Danville  Institute, 
followed  with  a  dialect  recitation,  entitled  'Writin' 
Back  to  the  Home  Folks.'  'Flying  Jim's  Last  Leap' 
was  the  declamation  given  by  Mr.  Taylor,  of  the  Bed- 
ford City  Academy,  and  the  next  was  an  oration  by  F. 
Burke  Fitzpatrick,  of  Randolph- Macon  College.  His 
speech  was  devoted  to  prophesying  as  to  the  future  of 
Virginia,  basing  his  remarks  upon  the  record  of  the 
past. 

"Miss  Edith  Cheatham's  address  was  'College  Men 
and  Women.' 

"  The  programme  was  brought  to  a  close  by  an  oration, 
'  A  Great  Work ;  Our  Share  in  It,'  delivered  by  Frank  A. 
Simpson,  of  Richmond,  Va. 

' '  On  behalf  of  the  Washington  Literary  Society,  Pro- 
fessor R.  B.  Smithey  presented  three  medals — one  to  the 
best  declaimer,  D.  R.  Anderson ;  to  the  best  debater,  F. 
R.  Hill ;  to  the  best  orator,  S.  R.  Tyler. 

"Dr.  E.  E.  Hoss,  of  Nashville,  the  speaker  of  the 
evening,  was  then  introduced.  His  subject  was  "The 
Forces  that  Make  Character.'  He  delivered  a  strong 
and  thoughtful  address,  which  would  have  been  more 
fully  appreciated  at  an  earlier  hour." 


330    HISTOR  Y  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE. 

AWARDS  OF  PRIZES  AND  MEDALS. 
WALTON  GREEK  PRIZE.                          MATHEMATICAL  PRIZE. 
1872.  R.  E.  Blackwell,  Va., 


1873.  Robert  Sharp,  Va., 

1874.  Wm.  A.  Frantz,  Va.,  .       ...      Howard  Edwards,  Va. 

1875.  W.  H.  Page,  N.  C., W.  F.  Tillett,  N.  C. 

1876.  Cyrus  Thompson,  N.  C.      ...      M.  T.  Peed,  Va. 

1877.  M.  T.  Peed,  Va., 

1878.  Clarence  Edwards,  Va.        .    .    .      J.  T.  Littleton,  Va. 

1879. J.  B.  Crenshaw,  Va. 

1880 R.  E.  L.  Holmes,  Va. 

iSSi D.  W.  Taylor,  Va. 

1882.  R.  E.  L.  Holmes,  Va.,        .    .    .      James  H.  Moss,  Va. 

1883.  James  M.  Page,  Va.,   .        ...      Richard  H.  Bennett,  Va. 
.1884.  L.  Leitch,  Va., James  M.  Page,  Va. 

1885.  Thos.  W.  Page,  Va.,    .        ...      Wm.  H.  Barley,  Va. 

1886.  E.  H.  Rawlings,  Va.,  .        ...      George  Shipley.  Va. 

1887.  J.  H.  Riddick,  Jr.,Va.,        .    .    .      J.  Jordan  Leake,  Va. 

1888.  J.  Jordan  Leake,  Va.,  .       .    .    .      A.  M.  Hughlett,  Va. 

1889.  De  La  WarrB.  Easter,  Va.  ...      E.  W.  Bowen,  Md. 

1890.  C.  D.  Ragland,  Va Andrew  Sledd,  Va. 

1891.  E.  C.  Armstrong,  Md.,        ...      H.  H.  Sherman,  Va. 

1892.  Andrew  Sledd,  Va., (Discontinued.) 

1893.  J.  E.  Wamsley,  Va., 

1894.  E.  P.  Dahl,  Va. 

1895.  C.  E.  Armentrout,  Va.,       

1896.  Bradford  Kilby,  Va., 

1897.  J.  W.  Lillaston,  Va., 

1898.  David  H.  Dolly,  Va., 

WASHINGTON  LITERARY  SOCIETY.      FRANKLIN  LITERARY  SOCIETY. 

1874.  A.  H.  C.  Russell,  La.,         ...      J.  B.  Powell,  Ala. 

1875.  J.  B.  McCabe,  Va., W.  F.  Tillett,  N.  C. 

1876.  T.McN.  Simpson,  N.C 

1877.  Gray  Carroll,  N.  C W.  J.  Sebrell,  Va. 

1878.  Jno.  W.  Carroll,  Va.,  .        ...      Chas.  W.  Tillett,  N.  C. 

1879.  W.  W.  Sawyer,  N.  C.,        ...      H.  A.  Southall,  Va. 

1880.  D.  M.  James,  W.  Va.,  .        .    .    .      Frank  Thompson,  N.  C. 

1881.  .  .  E.  S.  Ruffin,  Va. 


JUDGE. 


HISTORY  OF  RANDOLPH-MACON  COLLEGE.    331 

1882.  S.  M.  Garland,  Va., Harry  L.  Stuart,  Texas. 

1883.  J.  H.  Light,  Va., John  Morris,  Ga. 

1884.  C.  A.  Swanson,  Va.,    .       ...  W.  M.  Lane,  Va. 

1885.  Jas.  Cannon,  Jr.,  Md Thos.  F.  Sherrill,  N.  C. 

1886.  T.  W.  Page,  Jr.,  Va.,  .       ...  E.  H.  Rawlings,  Va. 

1887.  C.  L.  Bane,  W.  Va.,    .       ...  Sherrard  R.  Tabb,  Va. 

1888.  C.  F.  Sherrill,  N.  C.,  .       ...  A.  M.  Hughlett,  Va. 

1889.  W.  H.  H.  Joyce,  Va.,  .       ...  W.  A.  Christian,  Va. 

1890.  M.  R.  Peterson,  Va.,  .       ...  W.  B.  Beauchamp,  Va. 

1891.  I.  W.  Eason,  Va., H.  G.  Buchanan,  Va. 

1892.  J.  N.  Latham,  Va., W.  Stevens,  W.  Va. 

1893.  D.  H.  Kern,  W.  Va R.  H.  Hood,  N.  C. 

1894.  S.  C.  Hatcher,  Va., Andrew  Sledd,  Va. 

1895.  J.  H.  Hatcher,  Va., P.  H.  Williams,  N.  C. 

1896.  B.  V.  Switzer,  Va., F.  W.  Hilbert,  Md. 

1897.  F.  R.  Hill,  W.  Va., W.  M.  Blanchard,  N.  C. 

1898.  S.  R.  Tyler,  Va., F.  C.  Campbell,  Va. 


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